Kyran Chana swaps the North West for the Middle East

University of Central Lancashire Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying graduate, Kyran Chana, has swapped the North West for the Middle East in pursuit of his career as a consultant within construction and engineering.

Kyran always had an interest in property development and construction since he got his first toy truck when he was three years-old and dug up his parents’ back garden, turning it into a miniature construction site.

Growing up, Kyran was very good with numbers and originally wanted to become an accountant but decided to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer at the time. However, whilst working for his dad renovating properties in his spare time, Kyran re-discovered his interest in property development and construction. He began researching different jobs and career entry within the industry.

The University of Central Lancashire was Kyran’s local university and after looking around the facilities and talking to tutors, he chose to study BSc (Hons) Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying in the School of Engineering. The degree course covered a variety of modules which greatly appealed to Kyran, as well as being able to work with numbers whilst working outside. The University felt very welcoming and homely to him and it was a place where he felt valued.

During his time at the University, Kyran spent a placement year in Dubai working for the world’s largest interior contractor, Depa. Here he worked on two prestigious projects; Beach Palace and Logo Island, where he assisted the Senior Site Quantity Surveyor and the Commercial Manager.

Kyran found the placement invaluable, it gave him “experience of working in another country and knowledge of the various techniques used within construction, whilst gaining beneficial on-site experience.”

Following graduation in 2011, Kyran accepted his first graduate job with a specialist industry consultancy called Critical Path Limited through a contact from the University. He has worked on several international mega projects, his first one being the Danube Bridge 2, a large span rail and road bridge connecting Bulgaria and Romania.

In 2013, Kyran assisted the company directors in setting up a new office, Critical Path UAE, in Abu Dhabi, and that’s where he has been based for the last seven years. During this period, Kyran has worked on several mega projects including residential, hotel and resort developments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and Yas Island marine and infrastructure works.

Kyran’s current role at Critical Path UAE is Senior Consultant, specialising in project controls and extension of time claims.

Throughout his career, Kyran has been able to put his theoretical knowledge gained at University into practice whilst working on the projects. Looking back on his time at University, Kyran said: “Knowing that all the late nights completing assignments, revising for exams and the pressure of meeting deadlines and achieving good results was all worth it in the end. I was also lucky enough to meet some amazing friends during my time at UCLan and we all stay in contact.

“The Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying course was extremely diverse, giving a really good grounding in all parts of the construction industry. Due to the contents of the course, I have been able to keep many construction roles and routes open for future development, whilst also being able to interact proficiently with other construction professionals.”

When asked what advice he would give to prospective students wanting to follow a similar career direction, Kyran stated: “As simple as it sounds, work hard in high school and college to ensure you have as many options possible for the future. Don’t be afraid to choose a course which you have little knowledge or experience of, as UCLan has some of the best lecturers available in the industry. When you graduate, there are so many different routes available to pursue.”