Claudiu Bisnel, Brisk Group: We know how to accommodate the high demands of top-tier architects and top-tier clients

Brisk Group is a reputed consulting company in the construction industry, with offices in Bucharest, London and Chișinău. Its financial results and portfolio recommends it as local market leader. Recently, the company has been awarded the special Project, Construction and Cost Management Firm of the Year award, by the Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIB). To find out more about the company, we sat down with Claudiu Bisnel, Managing Partner and Founder at Brisk Group, for an exclusive interview.

By Anda Sebesi

How did the story of Brisk start and what are the company’s main achievements so far?

I founded Brisk Group in 2016, following a master’s degree in construction management from the Kingston University, in London. I had previously worked for reputed consultancy companies in the field of construction, such as Gardiner & Theobald. This solid prior experience allowed me to take part in complex projects, in various industries, so that when I came back to Romania I felt confident and motivated to start my own company. In the years since, the Brisk team has managed to bring UK’s best practices in matter of project, cost and construction management to the local market.

At the moment, Brisk Group is comprised of more than 70 professionals – a very robust team, that I am very proud of. The company’s growth through the years and its subsequent achievements are reflected in our financial results, which attest our position as local market leader. An important hallmark of our expertise is represented by the volume and quality of the projects we have handled, both locally and internationally, along with their overall complexity and diversity. Our team has repeatedly and successfully proven its ability to coordinate and implement large-scale projects in all major sectors requiring construction works: retail, residential, office, transportation, infrastructure, industrial and logistics, the medical industry and the governmental sector.

A component we place great emphasis on is technology. We are constantly monitoring the newest trends and we rapidly adopt and integrate the modern standards in our field of activity and we are always willing and prepared to apply the best technological solutions for any project we are working on – so as to use resources as efficiently as possible, long-term, while also optimizing the client’s investment.

What can you tell us about the local and international presence of Brisk Group?

We are living in a time in which we are becoming more and more aware of the interconnectedness of everything – and economic markets make no exception. That is why we believe an important step in a company’s organic growth is expanding beyond its national borders – and also why we decided to open local offices in London and Chișinău, besides the main one in Bucharest. This step has been a natural outcome of the fact that we have previously been part of international teams, working on complex tasks, in which we have put to use our entire project management expertise.

What is more, in the course of time we have successfully delivered projects all over the world, from Europe to Middle East. We have acquired a great deal of expertise on mature markets, as well as local know-how, a fact which always helps us to carry on to completion even the most complicated requirements, no matter the challenges.

An example of a very complex project we are currently working on, outside Romania, is a nuclear plant in the UK, part of a greater government plan for nation-wide energy production. The construction site of this project spans approximately 180 hectares, which actually makes it the greatest ongoing development in Europe today. We would also like to mention our involvement in the expansion and modernisation of both the Heathrow and Manchester airports, in the UK, Doha Port in Qatar, as well as in the development of a seaside luxury resort, called ‛Spirit of Albania’, located in a protected and relatively secluded area in the Balkans.

What are the main advantages of your international experience for the local operations?

The fact that, in the years since the company’s foundation, we have acquired such a vast expertise, locally and internationally, means, of course, that we handle our tasks in the most professional manner – and that we tackle all types of challenges. We know how accommodate the high demands of top-tier architects and top-tier clients, an experience that has been crossed over to the Romanian market. We feel the complexity and diversity of the projects in our portfolio, as well as the good standing of the stakeholders, are an undisputable recommendation to any company looking for a strong and experienced partner in developing a construction project. We take the Project, Construction and Cost Management Firm of the Year award, which we have recently been awarded by the Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIB), as a confirmation of that.

What are the main attributes that differentiate Brisk Group from its competition?

At the moment, we feel that our vast and complex portfolio, which we have discussed so far, is one of the most important aspects setting us apart from the competition, both locally and internationally. We also pride ourselves on our tailor made services, designed to address specific client needs, as well as the fact that we apply LEAN management principles. Our robust team, in the growth and development of which we continually invest in, is another important asset of ours, as human resource represents a strong pillar of our activity – constant technological innovation being another. A strong point we also bring to the table is our 360 degree perspective, matured and refined by our extensive previous experience, as well as the specific principles and instruments we use during the project management process.

How does Brisk Group address sustainability in its business?

Being aware that the construction industry is reponsible for roughly 40% of global carbon emissions, it is only natural to feel the urgency of a change in the paradigm. This can be achieved by implementing a more sustainable approach to the entire construction industry through circular economy , i.e. sustainable design, sourcing materials locally, using renewable materials, being aware of energy consumptions, passive and efficient systems, all of these providing a better quality of life and reduced costs in operations while environmental impact is also reduced.

We believe this is a mandatory direction for the entire industry, one that should be increasingly promoted by all stakeholders. This is especially true when speaking of the local market, which has been rather slow, as a whole, in aligning itself to the global sustainability trend.

So, we can say one of the long-term objectives we have at Brisk, when taking on various projects for our clients, is to inspire a ‛green’ perspective on what we are planning to bring to fruition. We should note that, while a great part of our clients already have a general sustainable view on things, for some this is not the priority. That is why we always come up with suitable solutions for optimizing their investment while making the project as sustainable as possible – and, we think, as ‛in tune with the future’ as possible.

What can you tell us about the way in which the company addresses the ESG paradigm?

Along with our sustainability focus, we are strong believers in the social responsibility of a company. Though it often escapes immediate observation, there is always a strong connection between companies, as ‛economical engines’, and the communities they are a part of, through the numerous links that are their employees, suppliers, local and regional clients – and stakeholders in general.

Given its activities, a company is meant to serve society as a whole, by sustaining the economy (including by paying its due share of taxes) and thus supporting the communities it is a part of. An ESG aware company will also have an ethical modus operandi, which will be also displayed in the correct and efficient handling of customers’ data. We also believe in being consciously and actively involved in protecting the environment and promoting a circular and regenerative economy. We will invest continuously in expanding our knowledge, in cultivating innovation and in upgrading technology so as to have an increasing positive impact in the welfare of people.

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