Building Value Across the Supply Chain at Chartway Group
Strong procurement, operational efficiency and trusted supplier relationships are essential to the success of any housebuilder. At Chartway Group, Martin Sanwell is helping to drive all three.
As Managing Director, Procurement & Divisions, Martin oversees Group material procurement alongside Chartway Building Supplies, Chartway Drylining and OFP Timber Frame. His role sits at the heart of the business, bringing together commercial strategy, operational performance and supply chain management to ensure our divisions work effectively as one connected Group.
Martin joined Chartway in May 2024 as Group Procurement Director, initially tasked with creating greater structure and consistency across procurement activity. Since then, his role has expanded significantly, reflecting both the impact he has made and the strategic importance of procurement and divisional performance to the Group’s long-term growth.
With more than two decades of industry experience, Martin brings a wealth of knowledge and commercial expertise to the business. After studying construction at college, he began his career with a builders’ merchant, gaining hands-on experience across multiple areas of the business before moving into buying for a housebuilder.
That early grounding provided invaluable insight into the construction supply chain and laid the foundations for a successful career in procurement and commercial leadership. Over the years, Martin has worked with organisations navigating periods of growth, acquisition and market change, experience that continues to inform his approach today.
Since joining Chartway, one of Martin’s key priorities has been strengthening procurement across the Group. By introducing formal procurement frameworks, establishing strategic supplier agreements and creating greater visibility across purchasing activity, he has helped deliver significant commercial benefits while improving consistency and control.
This work extends beyond cost savings alone. Martin has also introduced enhanced supplier pre-qualification processes and worked closely with operational teams to ensure procurement decisions support the wider objectives of the business.
While procurement often operates behind the scenes, its influence is felt across every aspect of housebuilding. Effective procurement supports programme delivery, protects quality, improves efficiency and helps create a stronger platform for sustainable growth.
Alongside his procurement responsibilities, Martin leads several of the Group’s specialist divisions, helping to strengthen performance and maximise the value they bring to both Chartway’s housebuilding operations and external customers. His focus is on ensuring these businesses remain aligned with the Group’s wider ambitions while continuing to develop their own capabilities and market opportunities.
A strong believer in partnership and collaboration, Martin places significant value on long-term supplier relationships.
“At a certain scale, volume helps, but relationships are key,” he says. “Being fair, dealing with people properly and building trust over time makes a real difference, especially when the market becomes more challenging.”
The same principle applies internally. Martin is passionate about building strong teams and creating an environment where people are encouraged to contribute ideas and challenge existing ways of working.
“There is a huge amount of knowledge within these businesses,” he says. “Often the people closest to the day-to-day operation can see exactly where things could be improved. Part of leadership is making sure those voices are heard.”
This collaborative approach has been particularly valuable across the Group’s timber frame and manufacturing operations, where efficiency, productivity and operational performance remain key priorities. Working alongside divisional teams, Martin continues to identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen delivery and expand value-added products and services.
Sustainability is also becoming an increasingly important consideration within procurement and supply chain management. Martin is helping ensure environmental performance forms part of supplier assessment and operational decision-making, supporting the Group’s wider sustainability ambitions while maintaining a strong commercial focus.
Looking ahead, Martin sees procurement excellence, operational efficiency and disciplined regional growth as central to Chartway’s future success. As the Group continues to strengthen its presence across the South East, he believes its specialist divisions and supply chain partnerships will play an increasingly important role in supporting that growth.
“We want to grow in a way that is sensible, sustainable and commercially strong,” he says. “That means strong supply chain relationships, good people in the right roles and businesses that work well together. If you can get those things right, you give yourself a much stronger platform to grow.”
In an industry where success is often shaped by what happens behind the scenes, Martin’s leadership demonstrates the critical role that procurement, operational alignment and supply chain strength play in creating long-term value for customers, partners and the wider Chartway Group.
