The Company
VJA Consultancy Limited is a small niche consultancy practice who enjoy working with their clients. Originally set up in 2009 to provide a smooth handover service for new buildings, it has since evolved responding to the needs of our clients in the Building Services and FM market sectors. We have also partnered with other Consultants who we have successfully worked with over the years. These include, but not limited to Design Consultants, Commissioning Engineers, Tendering Consultants, etc. providing you with a ‘one stop shop’ where the need arises.
Now based in Hampshire we are well positioned to support southern England and have also worked on a wide range of projects nationwide and even overseas. VJA Consultancy draws upon over 40 years’ experience across a range of market sectors including education, commercial, retail, leisure, healthcare and building maintenance.
We aim to provide you with a quality service in every aspect of the work we take on. These may include:
- Helping to complete that frustrating last 5% of the project. We can provide a tailored ‘Aftercare’ service for either the Contractor or the Building Users.
- Setting up a Compliant Maintenance regime minimising your liability, protect warranties and extend the life expectancy of your equipment.
- Carrying out condition surveys to help you prepare your future budgets.
- Review of your facilities teams and supply chains to provide you peace of mind that you are getting the best value for your money.
- Provide additional technical support during those busy times, or flexible interim cover for sickness or holidays, without adding to your overhead costs.
- Offer a fresh perspective on challenging situations when you can’t ‘see the wood for the trees’. We have often been used as a ‘Critical Friend’ / sounding board.
For further information or to discuss your requirements on ways to save your business time and money please contact John Ashton on 07779 800424 or use our Contact Form.
The Person
Firstly, John is very much a people person, preferring to work with people rather than against them.
In life things go wrong, and as Senior Managers, it is our job to get things back on track. Although the challenges may be stressful, nowhere in the rule book does it say we can’t have fun along the way.
Outside of work, John enjoys the outdoor life. He is a qualified RYA Powerboat Instructor and has been a Duke of Edinburgh Award Assessor for over 30 years.
John Ashton - Director
MCIBSE, Tech IOSH, CMgr FCMI, CIWFM
John started his career serving a 4-year indentured apprenticeship with British Nuclear Fuels plc before relocating to Berkshire where he joined Honeywell Controls working as a service engineer at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. During this time, he became a qualified Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineer and also a Commercial Gas Engineer.
After 15 years and having attained numerous awards within Honeywell, John left his role as a Technical Supervisor to step into the world of Facilities Management as an Operations Manager with Haden Building management on a secure MoD site.
In 2003 John was approached by Greggs South-East to take on the role of Contracts and Maintenance Manager for their 240+ food retail outlets before moving to Mitie Built Environment in 2005 as their Aftercare Manager.
In 2009, John founded VJA Consultancy, utilising the knowledge and hands on experience he gained whilst working ‘on the tools’ and the operational / budgetary challenges of Management. As a result of this he has the experience to navigate the challenges of actually doing the job and also that of managing / delivering a Job.
What we do in the words of our Clients
Not being able to ‘Pigeonhole’ what VJA Consultancy Limited does, we asked a few of our clients and stakeholders about their experiences. Below are the unedited versions of their responses.
Estates Director “VJA provide a pragmatic assessment of M&E infrastructure across the client estate. Through detailed asset capturing and lifecycle assessment, they work with clients to establish a realistic and deliverable maintenance strategy. This is supported by industry knowledge of procurement, contracts and project delivery.”
CEO of a Nationwide Facilities Management Company "VJA is a bespoke, customer centric consultancy led, focused across all areas of the built environment, who understand that an effective solution is something that goes beyond simply offering a service. VJA work to ensure that they fully understand your requirements, approaching every solution as if it were the first to ensure that they deliver, spurning the one size fits all model that is so very prevalent in the FM industry.
With experience of working across all industry sectors including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, education and commercial buildings, the VJA team are able to support you in whatever service you need, bringing this industry experience together into one package.”
Environmental Consultants Director “John is a highly detail-oriented individual with a strong focus on processes and precision, a quality that stems from his extensive training in critical systems within the nuclear industry. His risk-averse approach ensures thorough evaluation and careful consideration in decision-making, making him an invaluable asset in complex projects. John excels in managing and completing the final stages of a project, demonstrating exceptional problem-solving skills and a commitment to resolving outstanding challenges. He is also skilled at building and maintaining long-term relationships, contributing to a collaborative and trustworthy working environment.”
Design Consultant “Competent, diligent, thorough, carries out in depth review of contractor information/documents.”
Management Consultant
“You are a problem solver. You help clients overcome problems where they either don’t have the particular knowledge or experience, or they do not have a suitable resource in their team.”
Contract Manager
“John Ashton is a dynamic and solutions-driven consultant with over 30 years’ experience working across diverse sectors including education, construction, retail, chemical, and high-end residential. John brings a strategic and hands-on approach to solving operational challenges and improving service delivery across organisations.
John is known for his ability to navigate complex situations including identifying root causes of underperformance and implementing practical solutions that drive improvement. Whether addressing service quality issues, aligning teams, or managing technical projects, John brings clarity, structure, and momentum to every engagement.
Over the past decade, he has led consultancy projects involving contract audits, tender preparation, service delivery reviews, and technical systems assessments. John’s strength lies in his adaptability—wearing multiple hats to meet the unique needs of each client. He is equally comfortable engaging with frontline teams as he is advising senior stakeholders, always focused on building collaboration and delivering results.”