YORconsult’s Gary Wright enjoys a challenge – which is fortunate, as he’s taking on a charity walk of 100k in 24 hours! Here, he explains his motivation for this mammoth effort and running the YORconsult Framework.

Tell us a bit about your career and what led you to YORhub?

I studied Product Design at Sheffield Hallam University and graduated in 2008—right in the middle of the financial crash. Like a lot of people at the time, I wasn’t entirely sure where things were heading. I actually realised quite early on that product design wasn’t the career for me, but I stuck with the degree and did a bit of travelling and supermarket work after graduating, whilst deciding what to do next.

Eventually, I secured a short internship with Kier through the university. That was my foot in the door. I worked hard and progressed from project support into project management. Kier also supported me in completing a Masters in Construction Project Management, which really helped shape my career.

In 2017, I moved to Sheffield City Council as a Project Manager in the Capital Delivery Service. I worked on a wide variety of schemes—from housing and education to major public realm projects. One of the highlights was being part of the Heart of the City redevelopment, where I delivered Pounds Park—a project I’m really proud of and still visit with my son today.

From there, an opportunity came up in the framework team, and that’s where I transitioned into procurement and joined YORhub. I progressed into my current role as Programme Manager for YORconsult in 2023.

You’ve worked across both private and public sectors—how does that shape your approach?

It gives me a really useful perspective. At Kier, I worked on the delivery side, often for public sector clients. Then at Sheffield City Council, I was managing projects from the client side.

That combination means I understand the pressures, expectations, and challenges on both sides of the table. It definitely helps when working with clients and suppliers through the frameworks—there’s a level of empathy and practical understanding that’s really important.

What does your role as Programme Manager for YORconsult involve day-to-day?

I lead a small team of framework managers in Sheffield, and we’re quite unique in that we work across all three frameworks—YORbuild, YORcivil, and YORconsult.

A big part of the role is supporting clients with their enquiries—helping them procure consultancy services through YORconsult—and making sure the process runs smoothly. We also maintain ongoing relationships with clients, helping them plan future projects and navigate procurement.

Alongside that, I’m responsible for broader team management—things like financial reporting, attending board meetings, and working with senior leadership. But we operate very collaboratively; everyone in the team is hands-on and involved in delivery.

There’s also an outward-facing element—attending events, engaging with the market, presenting our webinar programme and generally representing YORhub—which comes with the role.

What do you enjoy most about working at YORhub?

For me, it’s the people side of the role. I like to think I’m approachable and enjoy helping clients get what they need, whilst building solid relationships with our suppliers. When you provide a good service and people genuinely appreciate it, that’s really rewarding.

I also enjoy the variety. One week you might be dealing with a relatively small commission, and the next you’re supporting something with huge regional impact. You never quite know what’s coming in.

And I’ve always had a genuine interest in the built environment, so I still enjoy getting out on site when I can—seeing projects develop, talking to delivery teams, and understanding how things are being built.

What makes YORhub different from other framework providers?

The key thing is that we’re public sector people delivering for the public sector. That’s a big differentiator.

We understand the realities our clients face—governance processes, approvals, procurement challenges and the timescales involved—because many of us have worked in those environments ourselves. That insight means we can give advice that’s grounded in real experience.

We’re also a relatively small, close-knit organisation. That allows us to be responsive and maintain strong, personal relationships with clients. People feel comfortable just picking up the phone to us, and that’s important.

What are the most rewarding moments in your role?

Delivering new frameworks is always a big one—getting something like YORconsult3 up and running successfully and seeing it gain momentum is really satisfying.

It’s also great to see projects come to life—especially the bigger, regionally significant ones. When clients approach us about major schemes—like infrastructure or regeneration projects—you can really see the positive impact those will have on peoples lives.

On a more personal level, the social value element of YORhub is one of my favourite aspects of the job and it’s something I’d like to get more involved with. Connecting contractors and consultants working on YORhub projects, with local worthy causes that need help with a community project, is really rewarding.

That’s a great example of how YORhub initiatives like YOR4Good can deliver meaningful community benefits.

You’re taking on a big challenge this summer—tell us about it.

I’m taking part in the Peak District Ultra Challenge in July. It’s a 100km walk that has to be completed within 24 hours.

The motivation comes from supporting a charity called DEBRA, which works with people affected by epidermolysis bullosa—a rare inherited skin disorder that causes the skin to become very fragile. Any trauma or friction to the skin can cause painful blisters. I’ve supported the charity for a while, and this felt like a good way to contribute further. Unfortunately, there is currently no known cure, but charities like DEBRA fund research programmes and do amazing work to improve the quality of life for people living with EB.

If anyone would like to support me with a donation it would be very much appreciated – please see below a link to my Just Giving page:

Just Giving – Peak District Ultra Challenge 2026

In terms of preparation—I’ve been training, but I won’t pretend I feel completely ready! The longest walk I’ve done so far is about 60km, so there’s still a big jump to the full distance.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

I spend a lot of my time outside of work with my six-year-old, which keeps me busy! I also enjoy rock climbing, which I’ve done for years, starting when I was twelve. I mainly climb indoors these days but I try to get out into the Peak District when I can.

It’s been great to see my son take an interest in climbing as well, so we’re starting to go together, which is something I really enjoy.

Finally, what are you most excited about for the future at YORhub?

There’s a lot going on. The brand refresh and new website are exciting developments, alongside a stronger focus on customer experience. We’re also looking to grow and diversify our customer base—building new relationships while continuing to support our established clients. Internally, bringing in new team members and continuing to develop the team is important as well.

Overall, it’s about continuing to evolve and improve what we offer—and making sure we’re delivering the best possible service for our clients and partners.

If you have a project you wish to have a chat about, you can email Gary here