entrepreneurs 19


Pictures by Angus Thomas


hands-on directors. Working for me is a lifestyle choice. We love the area we live in and our mantra is that we should look forward to taking our grandchildren to see what we have built.


Are you surprised by its success?


No. The British love housing; it’s a national obsession, the ’my home is my castle’ thing, and here in the affluent south we are building in some very nice areas.


How do you pick locations?


We are enormously fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Bargate Homes will never be about the volume or the density of the development.


We strive to build homes which we are proud to take our family and friends to visit; in short, homes our grandchildren will feel are positive additions to this wonderful area. We work with an expert team to build homes in locations which have a lasting legacy, leading the way in terms of sustainability and modern methods of construction. We develop new property, refurbish existing property and develop listed buildings; we work in conservation areas, greenfield and brownfield sites, promote land for development and work in joint ventures with landowners.


What are people looking for?


People are moving out of the city centre to sought-after villages and we’re adding a modern way to live to some nice locations. Many feature traditional exteriors, but are modern within. People want to shop locally for specialised goods or treats and there is a lot of discretionary spend coming with them. New-build homes sell as people trade down to enjoy a better quality of life.


You’re moving ’house’, to a larger head office in 2015, due to expansion?


Yes, but it’s right here, because we are building The New Barn at Vicarage Farm. We were initially a tenant, then bought the business park. We need a larger office for our expansion, with another dozen staff likely to join by the end of 2015.


What drives your entrepreneurial spirit?


I never wanted to be beholden to someone else to give me a job – and when you run it yourself you make your own rules.


Who taught you the most important lesson in business, and what is it?


My O-level geography teacher. I studied the development of new cities in the UK. Milton Keynes was on our doorstep and he organised


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – FEBRUARY 2015


a two-day placement with Milton Keynes Development Corporation when I was about 15. I didn’t want to be an architect, they’re a small part of the bigger picture, but I became interested in the entire development process.


Who do you admire?


Seb Coe, for being a figurehead in the London 2012 Olympics and coming from a working- class background. A man of great integrity who is looking at a role on the international stage as IAAF presidential candidate.


Downtime, are you a sporting man? I love skiing with my family and follow F1. What’s your own house like?


An incredibly contemporary house in the Test Valley; open plan with huge windows and light, the sort of open plan living we enjoyed during a spell in Canada. I’m always trying gadgets and home innovation ideas out in it.


You have four children, what do they lean to for future career interests?


I have a daughter aged 33 who is a full-time foster carer and three younger children, a son of 14 and daughters aged 11 and nine. Family and work life balance is very important to me because the work-life balance was not good when my eldest daughter was growing up. I suspect my 11-year-old will be a business person of some sort, possibly even follow me into property. She’s interested in all aspects of business, absorbs a lot and quizzes me on it; something she’s done for several years.


Where do you go from here?


This is it. I spend most of my time at Bargate and the rest working with and mentoring other management teams, as an investor shareholder and non-executive director. Having just turned 50, more time in the gym is on the cards.


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