10 QUESTIONS


10 QUESTIONS WITH… Q4


If you could hire anyone to be part of your team,


who would it be and why? Paul Thompson, our co-founder. He passed away just this year in a tragic accident and we all miss him hugely.


Q5 Q1


What was your first job? My first job was working in


the kitchen at McDonald's when I was a teenager. It didn’t last long but taught me the value of working quickly. After that, I moved into working in a call centre but I found it quite unfulfilling.


Q2


How did you get into the industry?


I wasn’t sure which direction I wanted


to go in so my dad gave me an admin role at his previous commercial interiors company while I figured things out. I absolutely loved it. Starting in a very junior role meant I learnt everything about the business and got to know all the suppliers, the customers, the systems and the workings of the industry ̶ I think it must be the best way to learn in many professions. I started getting more involved in actual contracts very quickly and thrived on the responsibility.


Q3


What has been your proudest moment?


Setting up Consensus four years ago. We’re a truly family outfit, based in Altrincham just outside Manchester but we operate all over the UK and we’re growing fast. I’m currently working on projects in London and Reading. I love that I get out and about and I am so proud at how well the company is doing, we’ve completed some stunning looking offices and commercial interiors, always ahead of schedule.


40


What’s the best advice you could give to


someone new coming into


the industry? Listen, learn and don’t turn your nose up at anything


Q6 Q7


What’s the first thing you’d buy if you won


the lottery? A villa in Ibiza. I love the place and would take the team there for a luxury holiday.


If you could have a dinner party with any


three people, dead or alive, who


would you choose and why? This is a really difficult question, there are so many people. Elon Musk for starters. I love social media so I’d like to talk to him about Twitter, as well as his approaches to sustainability and space travel. Then I’d add Alan Sugar as he seems the antithesis of Elon – an old school English businessman. I think they’d have quite the heated debate. For my third, as the World Cup has just started, I’m going with a footballer. Frank Lampard – I just like him. He’s had experience of working with a strong, young team and could give some good advice, I’m sure.


Q8


What did you want to be when you were


growing up? I wanted to be a football agent. I loved football but wasn’t a very good player, so being an agent looked a fantastic way to be involved and earn a lot of money.


Q9


What do you think the future holds for office


interiors and flooring? Office interiors have changed a great


Each issue, we ask a flooring industry professional 10 Questions. This month, we chatted to Ollie Plastow, director at Consensus Workspace.


deal in recent years, they have become much more mindful, ergonomic, biophilic and sociable. It’s something that was happening before Covid but it did get accelerated by the pandemic – more offices are becoming meeting places or coworking outfits so have needed to adapt: partitions have come down, spaces are more open plan, creativity and collaboration are being encouraged. This is reflected in flooring – softer materials, warmer colours, patterns and zoning are all coming to the fore. Sustainability is, of course, top of most briefs too – and rightly so. I think this will all continue.


Q10


Jodie Hatton, Design Manger UK at


Brintons Carpets Ltd, asks: Which building has your favourite floor be it historical or a recent


installation and why? Alexandra Palace underwent a massive refurbishment recently and they hired artists Art + Believe to create the flooring. They used bold bright geometric designs just using paint and FrogTape and the results are so impactful especially in an historic setting where contemporary geometric designs would be a bit unexpected.


https://consensusworkspace.co.uk


Check out next month’s issue to see what Ollie asked our next industry professional.


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