Matt White

Director

BSc (Hons) MRICS

Matt White is a Director at EPCA and is a Chartered Surveyor with over 30 years’ experience in the commercial property sector, together with specialist experience in the sustainability field.

Matt has worked on several key projects for a range of occupiers and property companies and funds as well as working on Dilapidations and Due Diligence instructions. Most recently, Matt has secured seven figure Dilapidations settlements for Clients, resulting in significant Project Management instructions.

In addition, Matt over the course of recent years worked closely with a specialist health care provider. This has recently resulted in the Project Management and Design of a major multi-million pound development of a redundant care home and conversion to 25 Bedroom specialist care facility, funded by the Scottish Government.

William Bell

Director

BSc (Hons) MRICS CMaPS

William Bell is a Chartered Building Surveyor with a long record of accomplishment in commercial property and the public sector, working within various industries including hotels, process engineering, whisky, large scale housing developments, education, railways, and distribution warehousing. William has a series of specialist interests in the fields of construction safety, statutory compliance, and sustainability in buildings.

William was formerly an Associate Director of Building Consultancy with the Glasgow office of Savills, having previously worked at CBRE. In 2007 William joined Matt White working client side in the hospitality and leisure industry, managing and developing a 30 strong portfolio of hotels, bars and restaurants. In 2009 William and Matt returned to consultancy work with the establishment of EPCA. Since 2014, William has spearheaded EPCA’s successful partnership with Doig+Smith.

William is an experienced construction health and safety professional, CDM Principal Designer and Certified Member of the Association for Project Safety. He also holds qualifications in fire safety, asbestos and energy performance of buildings. Under William’s leadership EPCA has become established as a leading provider of CDM services across the UK.

Leanne McDermott

Director - CDM Services

BSc (Hons) MRICS CMaPS TechIOSH

Leanne is a highly accomplished CDM Principal Designer and Chartered Building Surveyor, boasting an impressive 20-year career spanning both private and public sectors. With a solid foundation in Building Surveying since 2004, Leanne has become a specialist in CDM/Health & Safety over the last thirteen years, demonstrating a profound commitment to creating safe and compliant environments.

Leanne is suitability qualified for her role demonstrated with membership to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. She also holds the esteemed title of Certified Member of the Association for Project Safety, has P402 and P405 Asbestos Qualifications and is recognised as a Technical Member of IOSH. Her expertise shines in key areas, with a current focus on education, health & social care, and Whisky production facilities. Here, she excels in integrating her comprehensive understanding of health and safety, regulatory compliance, asbestos management, maintenance access, and building surveying into both new build and refurbishment projects.

Her wealth of experience extends across various sectors, showcasing versatility and proficiency. Leanne has successfully navigated projects in education, NHS, commercial offices, student accommodation, historic buildings, retail spaces, Ministry of Defence, hotels, windfarms, industrial and Whisky production facilities.

Leanne`s unique ability to seamlessly blend her knowledge with a practical approach adds substantial value to every project she undertakes. Clients benefit not only from her technical prowess but also from her dedication to ensuring the highest standards of safety and compliance are met in all aspects of construction and surveying.

In choosing Leanne for your project, you are selecting a seasoned professional who brings a holistic and tailored approach to every challenge, ensuring the success and safety of your endeavours.

James Jackson

Director - Sustainability

BSc (Hons)

James Jackson is our Director for Energy Performance and Sustainability. James is an experienced energy performance assessor and is accredited for non-domestic and domestic properties in both Scotland and England & Wales. Unusually for a practitioner from a non-engineer background, James has achieved accreditation for Level 5 buildings using dynamic simulation modelling. James is also an accredited Section 63 Adviser in Scotland.

James leads EPCA’s services in this fast moving sphere of building compliance, providing in-house support to our building surveyors in the vital areas of energy performance and sustainability.

Anthony Toolan

Senior Surveyor - Sustainability

BSc (Hons)

Anthony Toolan achieved a First Class Honours in Quantity Surveying from Glasgow Caledonian University and was awarded the Certificate of Excellence for Top Honours student, nominated by the CIOB. Anthony has worked in the construction industry for around 10 years in various roles.

Since joining in 2022, Anthony now serves as an EPC Assessor (Levels 3 and 4 buildings) at EPC Associates. He is actively involved in assessing various types of commercial properties in Scotland as well as England and Wales.

In addition, Anthony is currently in the process of completing an MSc in Environmental Sustainability to gain further knowledge in the field and assist his professional development.

Katie Dunbar

Associate Director

BSc (Hons) MRICS AaPS

Katie Dunbar is a Chartered Building Surveyor and has over 10 years` experience in the property and construction industry in various roles.  

Katie originally joined EPCA as a placement student in March 2015 and was quickly offered a full-time position with the firm whilst completing her degree part time. She gained initial experience working in both the CDM Department and Building Consultancy, before qualifying as a Chartered Building Surveyor in Summer 2020. Since then, she has added in-depth knowledge across a range of projects including project management, contract administration and dilapidations.

After a brief stint away working client side in 2022, Katie returned to EPCA in Spring 2023. She is currently seconded to a longstanding client of EPCA, providing client-side project management services on key projects. Katie is due to return from secondment at the end of 2024.

Matt Gormley

Senior Building Surveyor

BSc (Hons) MRICS

Matt Gormley is a Chartered Building Surveyor working within the Building Surveying Team with over 11 years’ experience in the industry.

Matt has a demonstrated history of working in the commercial and private sectors of the construction and property industry, specialising in Pre-acquisition and Technical Due Diligence Surveys on behalf of Global Investment Funds and Commercial Clients both as Vendor and Purchaser.

Matt also has a wealth of experience in Contract Administration, Design and Specification, delivering projects on Grade A listed properties for a National Public Body and Commercial fit outs on behalf of Commercial Clients. PPM Surveys and Maintenance Schedules: on various property types including Student Accommodation, Health Facilities and Educational Facilities. Dilapidations: negotiating on behalf of National Clients in their roles as Landlord and Tenant. Schedules of Condition, providing protection for Landlords and Tenants at end of Lease. Disability Access Audits: assessing the design and accessibility of properties in accordance with the relevant legislation.

Charles McAuley

Senior Building Surveyor

BSc (Hons) MRICS

Charles is a Chartered Building Surveyor, completing his Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) in 2023. Charles started his career in 2018 with EPCA during a university placement, working full-time while studying, and subsequently graduating with a first-class honours’ degree in Building Surveying from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2020.

Before joining EPCA Charles gained in depth knowledge of key elements of the construction process, having undertook diverse roles in the industry, allowing him to bring practical trade experience and a unique perspective to his role.

Charles specialises in design and specification and project management, working within the Firm’s Building Surveying team to complete various survey types across a large-scale of complex properties within a range of sectors.

Aaron Drysdale

Assistant Building Surveyor

BSc (Hons)

Aaron Drysdale is an Assistant Building Surveyor, possessing an Honours Degree in Building Surveying from Glasgow Caledonian University. Since joining EPC Associates in 2022, he has gained practical experience, actively assisting senior staff. His most recent contributions include assisting on commercial office refurbishment projects, overseeing quality monitoring and snagging on two £35m hotel developments, and assisting on various industrial refurbishment projects in Hillington Park, Glasgow.

Currently, Aaron is enrolled on the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) programme, with the ambition of attaining Membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS). Demonstrating his commitment to continuous professional development and further solidifying his expertise in the field.

John McCafferty

Senior Principal Designer

BSc (Hons) CMaPS

John McCafferty is a qualified Building Surveyor with a rich history in the property and construction sectors. With a comprehensive skill set and a commitment to excellence, John is well-positioned to offer specialised services as a Principal Designer or CDM Adviser under CDM 2015 regulations. John has achieved Certified Membership of the Association for Project Safety (CMaPS) and has successfully completed the APS accredited Principal Designer course. These credentials underscore his high level of skills, knowledge, and proven ability in the specialised areas of Construction health and safety (H&S) knowledge.

CDM Experience: With over a decade of experience in CDM, John has contributed his expertise to a diverse array of sectors, including hands-on experience in Reinforced Aerated Autoclave Concrete (RAAC) projects. John brings valuable insights to efficiently manage and implement such specialised construction materials. His project portfolio also includes social housing, offices, industrial spaces, retail outlets, hotels, licensed trade establishments, educational institutions, Police Scotland refurbishments, residential developments, public sector projects, and healthcare facilities. This breadth of experience positions him as a versatile professional capable of navigating the unique challenges presented by Principal Designer / CDM Adviser duties under CDM 2015 regulations.

John currently serves as a Senior CDM Principal Designer for EPCA, where he continues to grow his extensive 24 years of experience in the construction industry. His role involves overseeing and advising on Construction Design and Management (CDM) processes, ensuring projects adhere to the highest standards of safety and compliance.

John McCafferty is dedicated to ensuring the success of every project he undertakes, combining his expertise with a passion for excellence. His commitment to safety, extensive experience, and leadership skills makes him an invaluable asset for clients seeking a knowledgeable and skilled professional in CDM 2015 and health and safety within the construction industry.

Ashleigh Philipson

CDM Principal Designer

DipOSH CMaPS

As a CDM Principal Designer, Ashleigh brings 5 years of experience in championing health and safety standards within the construction industry. Ashleigh’s role involves providing advice, assistance, and guidance to duty holders under the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 and ensuring that all duty holders comply with their statutory duties. Ashleigh also undertakes audits on a regular basis to monitor compliance, identify hazards and implement corrective measures to maintain a safe working environment.

Prior to starting EPC Associates in May 2022, Ashleigh was employed as a Health & Safety Consultant whilst studying a HNC in Construction Management at Ayrshire College. Ashleigh graduated and achieved an Outstanding Achievement Award from the CIOB for her efforts whilst attending Ayrshire College. Since being employed with EPC Associates, Ashleigh has gained IMaPS accreditation, passed her NEBOSH Health and Safety Management for Construction (UK) exam and completed her NVQ Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety. Ashleigh has also recently obtained CMaPS accreditation.

Demonstrating her commitment to continuous professional development, Ashleigh is currently working on several projects for NHS Ayrshire & Arran where she actively engages with designers, contractors, and other stakeholders to integrate health and safety considerations seamlessly into the design and planning stages of construction projects. Ashleigh also works collaboratively with project teams to develop and implement effective risk management strategies throughout the construction project lifecycle.

With a passion for creating safe and healthy workplaces, Ashleigh is dedicated to ensuring that every project she is involved in not only meets but exceeds health and safety standards. Ashleigh’s mission is to contribute to the creation of safe, efficient, and compliant construction projects that prioritise the well-being of all involved parties.

Calvers White

Surveying Assistant