MANAGEMENT Team
Know our team, supervisors and management behind the scenes. We are people that find passion in what we do.
Phil Dare
Managing Director
Philip Dare has been working within the utility sector since the late eighties. Starting out as a machine operator working with Southern Electric, Philip gradually worked his way up to the role of team leader to then forming his own teams to feed the supply and demand for operational teams within the utility sector. As the years have progressed, so has the growth of the business. Philip has created a business that can undertake all elements of a utility based project from excavation, installation of a utility, through to the backfill, muck away and reinstatement.
During the years, Philip has worked with businesses such as Avent Engineering ,Wales and West Utilities, SSE gas network, Balfour Beatty, May gurney and Kier Utilities. Philip has worked to maintain these relationships, most of which we continue to work with today. Philip has put in place a management structure to assist in the day-to-day running of business and to continue business growth. Philip maintains a hands on approach and continues to oversee projects from beginning to end and will on occasion, work on the tools!
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Dave Cunnningham
Managing Director
Dave Cunningham has worked within the utility sector for a number of years, starting his journey “on the tools” with John Kennedy Civil Engineering and then Balfour Beatty. Dave worked on the South West Water contract undertaking operational roles within leakage and distribution, metering and new connections.
Dave subsequently moved into a Health and Safety role working as part of a team to promote a positive safety culture within operational teams prior to progressing on to operational site management with Balfour Beatty. On secondment, Dave moved around various contracts managing operational teams undertaking “snag work” to complete potable water mains rehabilitation schemes.
Following this, Dave worked with May Gurney and Kier Utilities within their Developer Works contracts. Here he managed teams expanding the potable water mains infrastructure on small- and large-scale housing developments.
Dave joined Dares in 2013 with the objective of expanding and building upon his experience and business relationships across the utility sector. Since 2013, Dares has grown considerably within the utility industry, expanding its work basket to include reinstatement term contracts, potable water and telecoms operations.
Bill Pope
Operations Manager
Bill Pope has been working within the utility sector since 1988 starting with Murphy Grey as a general operative. Bill has since worked with McNicholas, TJ Brent, Avent, Southwest Highways, May Gurney and Kier within the Surfacing, Reinstatement and Electrical sectors. Throughout this time Bill has expanded his knowledge and has advanced himself through the ranks of team leader, site supervisor and project manager within these industries.
Bill joined Dares in 2020 to take up the role of Operations Manager. Bill has been able to bring with him a broad knowledge of the industries in which Dares operate and has proved himself to be a key member of the Dare team.
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Martin Hooper
Reinstatement Manager
Martin Hooper has worked within
the utility sector since 1988 starting as a reinstatement operative with TJ
Brent Ltd. Martin has worked with Balfour Beatty, South West Highways, Skanska
& Milestone Infrastructure (a part of M Group Services). The latter 3
employers working as part of a term maintenance contract for Devon County
Council, managing programmed works within various disciplines of Highway Works.
Martin joined Dare Utilities in 2022 taking up the role of Reinstatement Manager. Martin brings with him a vast knowledge of Highways Works & Reinstatement requirements within our sector of works.
Darren Cooke
SHEA Manager
Darren Cooke has been working in Health and Safety Management since 2016, operating in high volume manufacturing, bespoke engineering, metal casting and electrical construction. During this time he has attained his NEBOSH National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety, as well as instructor qualifications for Manual Handling and Abrasive Wheels training.
Prior to this, Darren spent 3 years in engineering management, and 13+ years in the Royal Air Force as an aircraft engineer and maintenance manager.
He moves to the utilities industry with us in April 2023, bringing a wealth of experience from a range of industries, and a proactive approach to improving Health and Safety performance across our entire operation.
office Team
Jo Hudson
Accounts Manager
Ashley Brimble
Accounts Clerk
Adam Greatorex
IT / Reinstatement Coordination Support
Julian Gilling
Transport Manager
John Cunningham
Reinstatement Co-ordinator
Helen Cooke
Reinstatement Co-ordinator
field Supervision
Mark Hancock
Supervisor
