Peter McGettrick

Double GCU graduate, Peter McGettrick, is laying the foundations for a greener tomorrow and constructing pathways to a more sustainable future through innovation and leadership.

Having graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Management and subsequently an MBA in Business Administration from Glasgow Caledonian, Peter has since constructed a career focused on sustainability and business growth.

Now Managing Director of Advisory at Turner & Townsend, he leads a division with over 700 professionals which includes a 200-strong sustainability consultancy which helps clients in the public and private sector to decarbonise property assets and build a more sustainable future, one carbon footprint at a time.

Back in 1996, with this aspiration in mind, Peter recognised that in deciding which direction he wanted his career to follow, he needed to take the practical route – and Glasgow Caledonian University offered him just that.

“What appealed to me about Glasgow Caledonian was the emphasis on practical application rather than theory, so I felt confident that the University would help shape me for a career after finishing my programme.

“My university experience was also shaped by my involvement in extracurricular activities.

“These experiences helped me develop leadership skills, build relationships and make a positive impact towards my fellow students.”

Peter’s undergraduate degree was centred around environmental management – an area he was passionate about and wanted to make a positive and purposeful change within.

“Fast forward 20 years and I have built a sustainability consultancy within Turner & Townsend which employs over 200 people and supports clients in decarbonising their property assets which make up 40% of carbon emissions in the UK. “

After graduating in 2000, he went on to complete an MSc at UWS before joining Capita Real Estate and Infrastructure (now part of WSP UK), a large FTE 100 company at the time, as an Assistant Consultant.

“During the first five years of my career, I developed an interest in managing and growing businesses, so my MBA at GCU helped me gain a wider understanding of business leadership and played an important role in accelerating my career in this direction.”

After undertaking his MBA, Peter was quickly promoted to Director, and started to focus more on growing business streams within the area of construction professional services.

By 2016, he had progressed to Divisional Managing Director and was responsible for 400 people in the UK, before he took the opportunity to move to Turner and Townsend, a company he says he had always admired.

Two years later he became a Partner, managing the Advisory Division, and has sat as the Chair of the British Safety Council since 2021.

As Peter reflects on his impressive career, he recognises the important role that Glasgow Caledonian University played in helping him achieve his goals.

“I am grateful for all the opportunities I had and the people I met. I learned so much about myself and the world, and I feel prepared to take on whatever challenges come my way.”