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our area, and we have grown this organically. Originally, probably 95 percent of our scaffold
work was internal for our Asbestos division.
We’ ve completely flipped that on its head;
it’ s now probably more like 98 percent with external clients. We’ re working for tier-one contractors on huge projects that are complex
and require the best staff.
“ From a mechanical and electrical perspective, Wellington Hospital and Bullingdon Prison stand out. They are both very large and complex projects on which we excelled. All these projects are brilliant examples of our capabilities and how we’ ve grown in quality and capacity, and where we’ re going as a business. Once you win a project like that and deliver it, you are under the spotlight, and if you deliver great quality, it always leads to more business.”
Luke then reflects on the importance of company culture and the impact it has across
AK Plumbing, Heating & Electrical Services Ltd
Reliable Services to Education, Residential, Commercial, and Retail sectors
Plumbing Services
Heating & Gas
Bathrooms & Sanitation
Electrical Services
Get in touch: 07800866270 | info @ akplumbheatelect. co. uk 11 Block, 13 Carter Rd, Bishopsworth, Bristol, BS13 7TW the business:“ We’ ve turned a traditional organogram upside down; I use the analogy of a tree. In most companies, I would be the top as the Chairman, but I see myself as the root of the tree, and the more responsibility you get within Shield, the lower you go. Rather than climbing, you travel down and become the roots, soaking up the moisture to help everything grow. The more responsibility you get, the more people you work for. No one works for me; I work for everyone within the company in my position. By utilising this approach, it fosters a positive culture. It creates a purpose that is felt throughout the organisation. In my experience, people generally like to give more than receive. We employ based on personality first and foremost; anything else can be taught. If you get the personality wrong, that’ s something you’ ll never change in someone. This in turn means that our people are good, honest, and hard-working individuals who care.”
Being the best
Luke then concludes with a look forward to the company’ s ambitions for the coming year and beyond:“ It’ s going to be another strong year in terms of progression and growth. We’ ve got a fantastic pipeline of work and we’ re still on track for a strong profit by the end of the financial year, even though the bottom line will be affected by an investment in our new premises. To date, we have already invested approximately £ 3.4 million in that.
“ Our focus, however, has always been on being the best in everything we do. The quality is what we aim to grow, as opposed to the finances, which naturally follow if you perform well. Looking at next year, once we’ re all under the same roof in the new premises, this will bring significant efficiencies which will help propel the business even further.” ■
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