There is no better place to work in construction than the East of England, says SEH French Director Simon Girling. Our reporter Oliver Sullivan spoke to him in the first of our specialist spotlight series…
While a career in construction was never what a teenage Simon Girling had in mind, swapping out his football boots for steel toe caps could be the best decision he ever made.
His more than 30-year career has seen him rise through the ranks at SEH French, a time where he has witnessed both the unity and resilience of the local industry.
He said: “I was an NFB chairman back in 2016 and travelled all around the UK – but the Eastern region is unlike anywhere else. We’re all competitors and we all want to win, but we respect each other.
“When Covid happened we all united together to help one another, sharing best practices to ensure the safety of all and help to keep the construction industry open. I don’t know anywhere in the country quite like here.
“The industry has definitely changed, there is a lot more responsibility for contractors than ever before and we’re lucky here in the East that things have been relatively buoyant. We’ve had lots of exciting projects, with investment in all sectors now you’ve got Sizewell C looming.
“It’s nice to see you’ve got a lot of the usuals still around. Those that flex their muscles a bit and have a different kind of culture haven’t stuck around.”
Simon said SEH French’s impressive growth to being a 50-person strong operation turning over more than £25million is a reflection of the region’s reputation for quality and stability.
“We’ve continually developed over the years at SEH French,” he added. “We’ve always believed in the mantra ‘do things right and the rest will follow’, even if that means things cost us an extra couple of quid or a bit more time. We always focus on doing the right thing.
“We’ve got some really good people here and a great culture.”
But it wasn’t always a career in construction that Simon had longed for.
He had left school with the dream of becoming a professional footballer when he decided to heed his dad’s advice and take on a job at then SEH Ipswich.
“I was a typical teenager that wanted to be a footballer – I was in and around the mix but wasn’t quite good enough to make it,” he said.
“I sort of fell into construction through, really – my dad is a bricklayer by trade and he advised me not to go on-site as I’m not great with my hands, but to look into taking on a job behind the scenes.
“I actually applied to be a Site Engineer, but they offered me a job as a Quantity Surveyor.
“From the very start, I just loved it.”
But the perfect start to the industry wasn’t to last long, with the recession of the early 1990s meaning he was set to be among those to lose their job in the struggling industry.
Thankfully it wasn’t the end of his SEH career however – with his boss instead asking if he’d like to move over to SEH’s construction arm, SEH French.
“It was a big choice,” he said. “I was around 19 or 20 and had the option to go and work as a sales rep in Ibiza – but being a corporate QS, I knew SEH French was the right choice for me.
“We were in a little portable cabin back then at the side of the office, just three or four of us with another 10 working on-site.
“I then did my education before leaving for a national firm, but I didn’t like the mentality. I didn’t enjoy being a number in a big machine. I then went to another local firm, Haymills, before being offered a job as a Senior Surveyor at SEH French.
“By September 2001 it was agreed I’d become a Director Designate with the view of becoming a Shareholder Director – and here I am.
“But I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of some great people in the local world of construction.
“That includes Colin Hewitt and Graham Emmerson, founders of SEH, who gave me my chance – my previous business partner Jack Davey, One Group CEO Richard Neall and my current business partner Paul Rodwell.”
Since then Simon has gone on to lead the firm to numerous successful project completions, from SEH French’s first £1million job at Sidegate Lane Nursing Home to the £5million MSC office and the c.a. £13million Natures Menu HQ in Snetterton.
Looking back on his career so far, Simon said he would ‘definitely’ recommend the sector to the next generation.
“It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s all worth it,” he said.
“I often pass by some of our previous projects with my family and say ‘grandad built that’ – but my children are quick to remind my grandson and I that I don’t actually work on-site.
“But it’s great to look back and think about how your projects can make such a difference to people’s lives.”