John Cave

Current

Sustainable Materials Manager at EH Smith (Builders Merchants) Ltd
Chairman for FORCE (Forum for Constructing Excellence) in Coventry and Warwickshire at Constructing Excellence
Strategic Business Development at EH Smith (Builders Merchants) Ltd

Moderator at AEC Network
Founder at Westhaven Worldwide Logistics

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Past

Logistics / Founding Partner at Novatus Global Solutions
Sales Manager at Knight Star Freight
Logistics Controller at Carrs Paper Ltd

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Education

Birmingham City University
Craigie High School

Recommended

64 people have recommended John

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Construction

Websites

John Cave’s Summary

Founded and still run my own business in the International Freight sector.

Worked on the supply and specification of building materials some of the largest construction projects in the UK.

Researched and launched a new trading area of EH Smith in Sustainable Building Materials.

Chairman of the Forum for Constructing Excellence in Coventry and Warwickshire.

In depth understanding and use of web 2.0 and social media tools in business.

John Cave’s Specialties:

project management,building materials,supply chain,procurement,sustainable construction,architectural specification,International transportation, web 2.0, social media,air freight, sea freight, project shipping, warehousing, distribution, outsourcing

John Cave’s Experience

Sustainable Materials Manager

EH Smith (Builders Merchants) Ltd

(Privately Held; Construction industry)

April 2009 — Present (9 months)

As part of my Strategic Development role, I was asked to look into the market for Sustainable Building materials. After 18 months of research with numerous Architects, Contractors, Manufacturers, Industry Organisations and Academics we have launched our Sustainable Building Materials offer.

We seek to address a whole range of issues in the construction of sustainable buildings including energy efficient building fabric, airtightness and moisture management, renewable energy, drainage and water conservation, insulation, thermal and moisture mass.

I would like to work with Architects, Specifiers, Clients and Contractors who are looking to deliver buildings to Code Level 4 and above of the Code for Sustainable homes or BREEAM Excellent / Outstanding.
Chairman for FORCE (Forum for Constructing Excellence) in Coventry and Warwickshire

Constructing Excellence

(Construction industry)

March 2009 — Present (10 months)

FORCE, the Forum for Constructing Excellence, was formed following a period of consultation which started in late 2000, between local construction leaders and the local Learning and Skills Council.

The proposal was that a Forum was needed, to not only address serious issues regarding skills and labour shortage, but also to take forward a spirit of change in the industry, a spirit that would embody the philosophy of the Government’s report, Rethinking Construction.

Since 2000, FORCE has evolved into the local Best Practice and Constructing Excellence Club, and is now encompassed within the Constructing Excellence movement nationally, as well as the West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence regionally.

Membership is open to all stakeholders in the construction industry – from training providers and colleges, through suppliers, contractors and consultants, to property agents, clients and end users.

The Forum’s objectives galvanise our Industry players to try to work together to improve our Industry through sharing best practice, developing business through networking, and encourage business development through opportunity sharing and training.
Strategic Business Development

EH Smith (Builders Merchants) Ltd

(Privately Held; Construction industry)

March 2006 — Present (3 years 10 months)

Founded in 1922, EH Smith is now one of the largest privately owned building materials suppliers to the construction industry in the UK with a turnover of almost £110m (2007/8)

We have been involved in major building projects for almost a century and have an established pedigree that demonstrates our continued commitment to meeting the aesthetic, technical and commercial requirements of specifiers employed on multi-million pound contracts throughout the UK.

My focus is 'Strategic Business Development.' In plain english, I look for opportunities and then develop a strategy to make them happen. I do a lot of work with Masterplan Architects, City Planning and Regeneration teams and large building contractors.

One of those Strategic Developments is the development of a range of materials to meet the needs of Clients, Architects, Specifiers and Contractors when constructing 'Sustainable Buildings.' EH Smith Sustainable Products is the result of a collaboration between the maufacturers, architects, clients and contractors that we work with to ensure that we have a relevant and diverse choice of products.

The range is in stock from September 2009 and covers wall construction, roofing, timber, insulation, airtightness and moisture management, landscaping, renewable technology, solar lighting, drainage and water conservation and underfloor heating so please contact me for further details.
Moderator

AEC Network

(Internet industry)

February 2006 — Present (3 years 11 months)

The AEC network aims to:

1. Provide a forum where individuals or companies can teach, learn or share experiences and or expertise with others.

2. Create a network of experts (or interested parties) who collaborate on ideas, projects or opportunities for mutual benefit.

3. Re-connect a fragmented industry through a single portal where a broad set of views can be expressed, considered and appreciated by all.

Membership is free, and all involved in construction are welcome.
Founder

Westhaven Worldwide Logistics

(Transportation/Trucking/Railroad industry)

August 2002 — Present (7 years 5 months)

Back in 2002 I decided to take the plunge and start out on my own. I had the backing of some reliable potential customers. It soon became evident that with a projected turnover of £500,000 in the first year, and a negative cash flow (airlines and shipping lines rarely give credit) this was not going to be possible without assistance.

Westhaven Worldwide Logistics (a trading division of E H Smith (Westhaven) Ltd) was formed. With a group turnover in excess of £100 million in 2003, and a history dating back to the 1920's I had a reliable and solid base on which to grow the business, and the group aquired a new trading division.

The business has grown year on year and we operate B2B freight services in the following areas:

UK to/from:
East & Western Europe (French, Spanish and German spoken fluently in our office)
North America
India
China
Malaysia
South Africa
Australia
& New Zealand

We also run a UK Warehousing and Distribution facility in Solihull, West Midlands.
Logistics / Founding Partner

Novatus Global Solutions

(Mechanical or Industrial Engineering industry)

January 2006 — August 2009 (3 years 8 months)

We are seeking to help UK SME engineering companies face the future with confidence by leveraging the global nature of todays marketplace. In plain english, we help engineering companies to find trusted partners in India, China and other low cost sourcing countries for joint ventures, reciprocal trading or just setting up sourcing partners. We also help these organisations compete for export business, and can assist when entering new markets. From marketing support, to the implementation of proven processes - we can help.
Sales Manager

Knight Star Freight

(Maritime industry)

2001 — 2002 (1 year )
Logistics Controller

Carrs Paper Ltd

(Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Paper & Forest Products industry)

1999 — 2001 (2 years )

John Cave’s Education

Birmingham City University

Bsc , Computer Science , 1997 — 2001
Craigie High School

Additional Information

John Cave’s Websites:

John Cave’s Interests:

import, export, construction, logistics, transport, freight, warehouse, sourcing, architecture, Sustainable Building Materials, Birmingham, entrepreneur, haulage, shipping,christadelphian, family, travel, Canada, USA, europe, far east, music, reading, badminton, football (soccer!), dundee, scotland, work, ski-ing, mountain biking, aerospace, automotive,ENFP,

John Cave’s Groups:

Chartered Management Institute
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA)
Editorial Advisor to the Chartered Quality Institute's Quality World Magazine
Constructing Excellence
Ecademy Blackstar
BIFA (British International Freight Association)