Where are you from and how did you get into this business?
I have lived in Bedfordshire all of my adult life and have been in the Construction Industry for over 20 years. I realised that there was a shortage of Builders in the Bedfordshire area but that also we could offer something unique in terms of Project Management and far greater transparency with pricing at the start of the project. My business Partner Lee has also been in Construction for over 15 years and also agreed that customers needed something more than just a good quality build. So we decided to set up on our own and build a business focused on greater engagement with the customer. We feel this is the key to managing the project effectively and ensuring the outcome is right for all involved.
Describe a typical work day for you?
Most days I am at my desk by 7-7:30am, spending the first hour clearing email, chasing up deliveries and sorting out the bank, this sets me up for the day. This is normally followed by trips to 1 or 2 sites, catching up with Lee and his guys on site and the progress of the projects, checking the material deliveries and going through any technical issues that have come up. Back to the office for the afternoon with another hour catching up on more emails, then focusing on material ordering for the next stages and any spare time quoting potential projects. The work day normally finishes around 5pm so that I can walk the dogs and eat dinner and then most evenings back to the computer for an hour or so.
From where do you draw your enthusiasm and inspiration for the job?
I enjoy what I do, I'm lucky that I am one of the few people that enjoys organising and working in general. That doesn't mean that I don't get frustrated or annoyed but it does mean that I get a kick out of things going right and receiving good feedback from customers.
How can a customer ensure that they receive the best possible service from you?
The best thing to do is let us come and see you before we do the quote, this means we get a real idea of what you are looking for but it also means you can get a better understanding of how we work. This means that when you received the quote it has everything you want / need in it with enough detail to understand how it will all work. It is always best to state up front your expectations so that we can tailor our service to you.
What has been your most memorable experience on the job?
For me this has got to be the completing of a garage conversion in time for Christmas. The customer was very specific about wanting the build finished for Christmas but we weren't able to start straight away due to some hold up's from the customer, so when we managed to get it completed in time, despite some additional problems on site, and then getting a great review from the customer was a great feeling.