PEOPLE
10 MINUTES WITH: MARK RIGBY
Skills Development Consultant, Dulux Academy
What is your current role and how long have you been doing it?
My current role is a Skills Development Consultant at the Dulux Academy. I have been in the role since the Dulux Academy was founded in 2016 and before that I worked as a decorator for more than 30 years.
What does your role entail? I am responsible for delivering a wide range of bespoke training courses to help painters and decorators gain new skills and grow their businesses. We cover everything from product application to colour and business management to health and safety.
How did you get started in this industry? It was completely by chance. On the day I left school in 1981, I headed out to find a job. Jobs were fairly scarce back then and I decided to start my search by literally knocking on the doors of local businesses. The first one I tried was a local decorating business. I had helped out with the decorating at home and enjoyed it and luckily the decorator was looking for a new apprentice. The following Monday saw me start my career as a painter and decorator.
What roles were you doing before and how did they prepare you for this one? After I completed my apprenticeship, I started up my own decorating business which I ran successfully for 31 years. The hands on experience this gave me is invaluable in my current role. I can understand the concerns decorators have, as I’ve also faced many of them, and can share all the learnings I’ve gained from many years in the industry.
What would you like to achieve in your role?
I’ve never been one to rest on my laurels so I always want to improve the courses the Dulux Academy offers to ensure decorators continue to get industry leading training. Whether this is through expanding the range of courses we offer, or incorporating new cutting edge technology and emerging techniques into the courses, I want to ensure we are continually equipping painters and decorators with all the tools they need.
What has been the highlight of your career? I have been very lucky to run my own decorating business and I was hugely proud when we topped £250,000 turnover for the first time.
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But without a doubt the biggest highlight of my career has been joining the Dulux Academy. It’s an honour to pass on the knowledge I’ve gained and have the chance to inspire others. The day the Dulux Academy opened was very special.
What do you see as the main issues for builders merchants and for the construction industry at the moment?
The immediate challenge is how to combat rising prices and increasing transport costs. From my experience as a decorator, and from talking to others in my current role, I believe merchants and tradesmen can combat this by focusing on how they can go the extra mile to deliver a high- quality service that develops a strong connection between them and their customers. That way customers will see the merchant or tradesman as a partner and feel a strong sense of loyalty.
If you could go back to the start of your career, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
The best advice I could give to my younger self, and what I tell people I train who are starting out, is to concentrate on getting the job right. Don’t worry about the time taken, focus on delivering a brilliant finish every time, and the speed will follow with time and experience.
Football, rugby, cycling, golf or gardening – which one’s more likely to keep you busy at the weekends?
Football. I have been a season ticket holder at Wigan Athletic for nearly 50 years and to see them win the FA Cup at Wembley a few years ago was a fantastic experience. I also enjoy cycling and recently completed the Dulux London Revolution with a team from Dulux, cycling 200 miles in two days.
If you’re at the bar – what are you drinking? If I’m at a bar it would be a beer, a glass of Malbec if I’m at home.
What’s your favourite book? Favourite film? Favourite book: Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame - it’s a classic. Favourite film: Blues Brothers or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off - both never fail to cheer me up.
If you could be a superhero, what superpower would you choose? Having the power to identify cowboy tradesmen and dishonest customers at first glance would be fantastic. BMJ
• John Sinfield has joined roofing giant BMI as Regional President North. He was formerly managing director of Knauf Insulation. Sinfield is replaced at Knauf by former financial director Neil Hargreves.
• Altecnic is restructuring its trade sales team and recruiting two new area sales managers. Dave Bond joins as area sales manager for London and the South and Robert Bellingham will cover Scotland and the North East.
ON THE MOVE
• Lauren Haines, a Director Elliotts Builders Merchant, is celebrating 45 years at the family-run company.
• Annette Forster has been appointed as Group Marketing Director at Ibstock plc. She was formerly Marketing Director at Wienerberger UK.
• Lakes has appointed Area Sales Manager Steve Spencer to join its external sales team, covering the South East.
• Darran Rickards will take on the role of managing director of JDP from April 1, 2019 replacng Steve McLellan, who moves to Tessenderlo Group.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net March 2019
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