entrepreneurs 13


Pictures by Angus Thomas


period building; we bought it from the Council and converted it into 60 flats. It always gives me pleasure when I drive past and think “I did that”.


The second would be the development of the former Fair Mile Hospital site in Cholsey, where we provided 134 homes, together with community buildings and recreational amenities for residents and the local community. It was a terrific project and followed a similar development we did in Basingstoke.


Can you share any business advice?


Don’t overstretch yourself. We always say that whereas bigger companies have the systems, we have the knowledge and people who really


understand what they are doing. It reduces the risk.


I learned early on, never to put yourself in a position that you can’t get out of and that’s why we will never overextend ourselves. We successfully got through two bad downturns in the property market by scaling back and then, as things improved, we built the business up again.


What do you enjoy most about your chosen career?


I visit our building sites every fortnight and I love seeing how things have changed. I get a real thrill from see a space that we have built or a view that we have created.


Whenever I look at an old run-down building, within minutes I can picture what it could look like, even without going inside. I love that feeling.


Where does Thomas Homes go from here?


We’re still very much a family company. When David retired, my son James came on board as finance director and Chris Brotherton joined us as land director. We had known Chris’ family all our life, so as far as we’re concerned, it’s very much still a family business and will continue to be.


As one scheme finishes you go down a different route and find another one. One of our next projects is at the Reading University London Road frontage buildings, coincidentally opposite Albion Terrace,


What do you do on your time off?


Work. We live in Wiltshire now, but ten years ago we bought a farm in the Meon Valley so I spend Monday to Friday in the office and at weekends I’m on the farm, that’s how I relax.


The farm is worked on a contractor basis, and I work on the farm buildings and do things like


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MARCH 2015


tree planting and making ponds; anything to do with being on the land and in the fresh air. What worries me is that now I’m nearing the end of what I set out to do, I need to find something to do next.


I have realised I’m a workaholic. When we go on holiday I always take my computer but I say to Sally that that’s no different to reading a book and she does agree.


Where do you get your work ethic from?


My father’s grandfather went bust in the depression in South Wales and we were brought up to value good education and qualifications. All of my siblings have become professional people – a doctor, a surveyor, a solicitor, another has a degree in retail – so we’ve all been very driven as a result of our upbringing.


Do you have a life philosophy?


You achieve in life what you put into it. When I was rowing at Oxford it taught me discipline and the fact that pain isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While someone might say they feel tired, I will never say that – because as soon as you do, then you become tired.


I like to go to bed thinking I have done something with my life every day.


Do you see yourself retiring?


I’ve no intention of doing so. Out of all our friends, I’m the only one working but I enjoy what I do and I don’t consider it work. Sally is quite happy to have me out of the house. Without her support over the years I wouldn’t have been able to do what I do.


My view is to enjoy what I do while I have the health to do so, I probably value it more now than I did 10 years ago because I want to make the most of life.


Details: www.thomashomes.co.uk www.businessmag.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36