Rawlings, who died aged 63, founded Lakehouse and social enterprise Building Lives
Lakehouse has paid tribute to its founder Steve Rawlings whose death was announced this week after a short illness aged 63.
Rawlings, who leaves a wife and grown up daughter, began the company in 1988 stepping down as the firm’s chief executive in October 2014 in order to spend more time running his training-focused social enterprise Building Lives.
In a statement, the contractor said: “Steve was famous in Lakehouse for his accessible, personable style. He rarely wore a tie and always introduced himself as ‘Steve’. He was an astute and focused businessman but never forgot the importance of people and saw the people who worked for him, as part of his extended family. He instinctively knew that companies need a ‘heart’ in order to be successful.”
Building Lives, which shut last month, was training more than 450 people at 10 academies at its peak but last year had crucial funding pulled.
Lakehouse added: “Its remit was to inspire people from all backgrounds into sustainable construction careers; reducing unemployment and tackling the industry skills shortage. Since it began it has given hundreds of disadvantaged young people a route into the construction industry.”
Earlier this year, Rawlings returned to Lakehouse as a non-exec director after leading a shareholder revolt after a profit warning from the firm in February.
Meanwhile, Lakehouse has hired Bob Holt as executive chairman from rival Mears.
Holt, who will remain the firm’s non-executive chairman, spent 20 years at Mears and will be formally installed next month. The hire will see Ric Piper step down as non-executive chairman but remain on the board. Holt will be paid £225,000 a year by Lakehouse.
Steve Rawlings, 1953 - 2016
Steve Rawlings was in his late twenties when, having spent time as an apprentice roofer, he created Lakehouse from a bedroom in his Wanstead home. He was following in the footsteps of three generations of his family all of whom had been in the building industry.
A true Eastender (he was born in Bow) he left school with few qualifications but a fierce ambition. From its modest beginnings in the late 1980s, Lakehouse grew into a £340m turnover award-winning business with clients ranging from local authorities to schools, colleges and social housing providers; not to mention the occasional famous dogs and cats home.
Steve was committed to greater diversity in the construction industry and was a passionate supporter of apprenticeships. Having overseen the company’s biggest contract win - a £200 million project over 10 years - he stepped back from the day to day running of Lakehouse to focus on his philanthropic work and created the charity Building Lives in 2010. Its remit was to inspire people from all backgrounds into sustainable construction careers; reducing unemployment and tackling the industry skills shortage. Since it began it has given hundreds of disadvantaged young people a route into the construction industry.
Steve was famous in Lakehouse for his accessible, personable style. He rarely wore a tie and always introduced himself as ‘Steve’. He was an astute and focused businessman but never forgot the importance of people and saw the people who worked for him, as part of his extended family. He instinctively knew that companies need a ‘heart’ in order to be successful.
He met the Queen in July 2011 when he received The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and this, as well as the time he spent mentoring young, disadvantaged people was one of his proudest moments.
He leaves a wife and a grown up daughter.
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