I'm usually in the office three days a week and the rest of the time I'm visiting our six regions, learning about the business, visiting sites and getting to know my customers, that is, everyone in Tarmac Building.
How does construction differ from other industries you've worked in?
I've only been here since September 1998, but I've found the issues affecting the construction industry are pretty similar to those in the car and financial services industries.
Each organisation's business strategy is different, but how you change people's skill levels to bring about greater efficiency and improve customer focus is pretty much the same.
Are there any other similarities?
There are a lot of similarities between what the car industry went through and the challenges now facing construction. When the Japanese came into the market, it became fiercely competitive. This forced us to look at the way we did business.
I believe there are similar issues that are key to the construction industry, such as flexible working practices, leadership, teamwork, new ways of rewarding people, moving away from a structure with many layers and shortening lines of communication. I even worked with Sir John Egan when he was looking at some of these issues at Jaguar.
What's the best thing about the job?
People's passion for the product. They all have incredible pride in the buildings they build. This was one of my reasons for joining the company.
What were your ambitions when you were 18 years old?
Purely to go to university and have some fun.
Who influenced you in your choice of career?
My mother, Ann, always encouraged me to try new things. Also, David Upton, who was an agricultural consultant in Solihull, where I worked during a year out at university. He told me to "go off and do Europe" and made me realise what empowerment was all about.
What's been the highlight of your career?
Knowing I've contributed significantly to every business I've worked for and being asked by a number of people to be their mentor.
What's been the worst experience?
Making people redundant in order to safeguard the future of a business.
How do you switch off after work?
Gardening, DIY and visiting my four wonderful nieces, whose ages range from six months to eight years old.
If you weren't in your current job, what would you be doing?
I'd love to be a landscape gardener. Or, if I were financially independent, I'd like to work as a training and development mentor.
As a director of the Training Standards Council, I firmly believe that the training and development of people, particularly the young and unemployed, is absolutely key to our future.
