Jon Salem

An appreciation of nature and enjoyment of the outdoors combined with an interest in building things led to a degree in Horticulture at Writtle College. I spent a year out during the degree working in various office-based roles at a small landscape contractor, caught the bug for commercial landscape contracting and haven’t looked back since.

I joined Frosts in 2019 as Commercial Manager and quickly got stuck in to managing the procurement and commercial aspects of the wide range of projects we were undertaking. These first projects included the challenging soft landscaping at Chelsea Barracks and the multi-level roof gardens at 60 London Wall. Having not previously worked within London or been involved with major roof gardens both were a great opportunity to get to grips with the specific London centric challenges that the industry faces delivering projects whilst also experiencing the calibre of projects that Frosts deliver.

My time day to day is a rewarding mix of supporting colleagues within the commercial and operations teams alongside commercial management of my own portfolio of projects.

For me the projects that provide the greatest legacy are those that are built for and are enjoyed by the public on a daily basis. Handing over a successful park restoration or urban renewal project to an engaged client team with whom you have partnered in delivering the project is a great feeling. Continuing and increasing Frosts involvement in such projects, especially in an increasingly sustainable way, creates a lasting legacy far beyond the individuals involved.

We care and we are diligent and it shows in how we approach each aspect of our projects.

I like to think we are an honest and straightforward company, both in the way we deal with our employees, our supply chain and our clients. In contracting things do not always go to plan (whether this be client or Frosts side) but we will step up and try and help resolve it rather than being difficult or hiding from the issues. We are engaged by clients to get the right job done and this is at the forefront of who we are.

The Frosts team – our employees, perhaps especially now we are Employee Owned. It is our people that make the business the great success that it is and make it a good place to work. We have great people within the business and I want to see them continue to grow and flourish with us. They are what matter, irrespective of the role they are employed to fulfil on a daily basis.

I don’t manage to escape the office as much as I’d like but I do really enjoy getting out on site and seeing works in progress and then finished. This makes all the hours in front of a laptop worthwhile. I especially enjoy walking between central London sites in the spring or summer and seeing the mix of public parks, pretty private gardens and public realm landscape surrounded by great architecture.

Cornus kousa ‘China Girl’ - love the free flowering nature and colour of this plant

I do enjoy time pottering about in my small garden on a Saturday when the weather is nice or getting out for a walk with my wife. I’m a Christian and a member of a local Baptist church and much of my spare time is spent enjoying time at church or reading good books relating to my faith.