With growing demand for structured support services in Jamaica’s construction sector, a new project management business has entered the market, offering administrative and technical solutions to help clients manage property development more efficiently.

Ashcon Project Solutions Ltd, founded by civil engineer and project manager Ashley Ewan, was officially registered in 2025 after years of informal consulting work and industry experience.

“A lot of people in, like, my personal circles would come to me and ask me for related services,” Ewan told the Jamaica Observer. “Like, you have people asking, ‘Oh, I want to get a property; can you help me with finding somebody to do this renovation for me?’ Or, ‘Can you help me with sourcing it?’ Or people would come and ask me to do estimates for them.”

Having worked in project coordination since 2020, Ewan saw an opportunity to formalise her services. Ashcon now provides a range of “soft” construction services that support both private clients and other businesses, including payroll management, construction scheduling, and bills of quantities, key functions that many small developers or individual homeowners may struggle to manage on their own.

Ewan, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, began her career in civil design, producing technical drawings that contractors used for builds. Her early career also included a notable stint with a coastal engineering firm, a niche area in Jamaica’s construction industry.

“That was very interesting. It was fun because I worked on the beach every day,” she recalled.

These included breakwaters, groynes, and beach nourishment works, the kind of infrastructure often seen at luxury beachfront hotels. From there, she transitioned into mainstream construction and landed her first major site assignment at Sandals Dunn’s River, managing internal finishes on a five-storey room block under tight timelines.

Describing it as a “baptism by fire”, she noted that it introduced her to the discipline of working within tight schedules, a skill that would shape her approach to future projects.

“Most construction projects tend to go off schedule, but project management helps fix that,” she explained to Sunday Finance. “That’s where planning ahead and proper scheduling come in, and it’s something I’m a real stickler for.”

Ashcon now caters primarily to commercial and hospitality clients, but the business is also expanding its footprint in the residential sector, particularly among homeowners seeking guidance through the building process. The company offers services such as estimates, planning, and project coordination, and for larger construction tasks, connects clients with reputable contractors from its professional network to ensure the right expertise is applied to each project.

One of the key challenges in this area, however, is sourcing skilled tradesmen who meet professional standards.

“You can always find somebody who has the ability to do something, but you want someone who will do it well — background, expertise, all of that,” Ewan said.

To address this, Ashcon focuses on cultivating long-term relationships with trusted tradespeople. The company’s services are tailored to support a broad client base; from individual homeowners navigating their first build, to developers managing multi-unit construction. For residential clients, Ewan noted that understanding architectural drawings and calculating materials can be daunting without a professional background. To ease that burden, Ashcon provides comprehensive support, helping clients avoid common pitfalls such as material shortage, overspending, and project delays.

The firm also collaborates with construction companies in need of external project management, offering scheduling oversight and on-site coordination. Whether it’s a developer building 10 townhouses or a homeowner starting a renovation, Ewan said Ashcon’s value lies in bringing structure and professionalism to every stage of the project, from planning to execution.

Looking ahead, the company plans to continue growing its client base and diversifying its project portfolio while strengthening its brand within the local construction industry.

“Long term, we want to take over the world; of course, I’m joking,” Ewan said with a laugh. “But seriously, we’re looking to be very established and a nice household name.”

Ashley Ewan, managing director of Ashcon Project Solutions Ltd. “We’re looking to be very established and a nice household name.”

Ashcon Project Solutions Ltd Managing Director Ashley Ewan (centre) oversees a project with a team of skilled tradesmen.

Hotel room blocks expansion and renovation in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, 2023.

Hotel construction managed by Ashley Ewan, managing director of Ashcon Project Solutions.

Marine structures construction and beach nourishment, 2022, Discovery Bay, St Ann.

An over-water bungalows renovation in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, managed by Ashcon Project Solutions Ltd.