You there, what’s your name and what’s your job? 

I’m David, and I’m Head of Geotechnical Labs here at Igne.  I started with the business when it was still Terra Tek – that was back in 1995.  I did take a brief detour away from the business to work for a concrete supplier, before quickly realising the error of my ways and returning to the fold.

All told, I’ve either been here 25 years, or, if you forgive and forget the momentary indiscretion when I left, next year will be my 30th year with the company.

They say to err is human, and to forgive is divine.  Just call me Divine and we can draw a line.  So, what does being ‘Head of Geotechnical Labs’ entail? 

A bit of everything to be honest.  I work very closely with Pete (Godfrey) Director of Materials Testing on a daily basis and am heavily involved in operations in our various locations across the UK.

Work can range from client meetings to discuss and advise on projects, ensuring appropriate equipment and resources are in place to meet demands and deadlines, to ensuring the quality of our service and that the UKAS aspects are continually all up to scratch and compliant. 

I also help to implement strategy – which this year has involved new locations, new premises, new services and new people!

Aside from all that, one of the most important and enjoyable parts of my role is ensuring continual communication with our clients and between our teams in all areas of operation.  Ensuring effective and timely information sharing makes everyone’s lives easier – and I’m here for that.

Altruistic.  Nice.  So, who inspired you to pursue the career you have today? 

I guess like a lot of people I’ve taken my lead from my upbringing and examples set by my folks which was always about putting the effort in, working hard and the rewards will come.

Good advice – and is that what you’d say to someone who wants to follow in your career footsteps? 

Yes, it’s about basic values – put the effort in, be conscientious, be proactive, be eager to learn.  More often than not, having these values will help you stand out and progress your career.

There’s also an old Benjamin Franklin quote I first heard from a teacher way back in school which I’ve used in every area of life and work, and which has stood me in good stead – ‘By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail’ – so be prepared!=

After either 25 or 30 years, tell us about a career triumph?

I thought we’d agreed to forget about that!  And, I don’t think there’s any one single thing I could hang my hat on.  There have been a lot of years working on and managing major testing projects which, when they successfully conclude, give a great sense of satisfaction.  But more than that, it’s probably the client and colleague trust and relationships and friendships that have built up over decades of trying to do a good job and working collaboratively that’s most rewarding. 

After either 25 or 30 years, who or what motivates you to this day – I mean, both are a long time! 

Oh come on!  Well, there’s always a new challenge - which I love.  I’ve also been known to be a tad competitive, so I always want my teams to be the best at whatever we do.  So that’s a continual motivator!

What are you most proud of? 

Well, apart from my family of course, I’ve always had a thirst for knowledge which has led me to undertake college and university courses in my spare time whilst working in my various roles.  One such period ultimately led me to gaining a degree in computing from Strathclyde University which wasn’t my original intention!  What started as attending evening college classes to find out ‘how to work the internet’ snowballed!

Looking back, I’m not quite sure how I managed it whilst working full-time and with two young kids at home at that time.  Although, I’m pretty sure my wife has a fair idea how that part was ‘juggled’!

Nice.  They say behind every great man there’s a woman rolling her eyes.  Tell us more about your family… 

That light is actually hurting my eyes now.  Okay, so my nearly 21 year old daughter is in her third year of a psychology degree in Glasgow.  She inspired me to read around the subject and now I’ve found a deep interest in what makes people tick, why they might react in a certain way.  So, that’s in turn has helped me in day-to-day work – I’d say I now have more of an appreciation of why someone might be motivated or in turn demotivated by a situation.

Then there’s my son who is football mad – he plays it, watches it, is so good at it.  And he and I share a disappointment in our dog, Nala.  We were basically duped.  My wife convinced us that, as are such an active family, having a dog would complement our lifestyle.  This tiny bundle of fur duly arrived, and my son and I have been waiting years for it to grow.  But it’s steadfastly remained a handbag dog – he’s so ashamed he won’t even walk her!

Honestly, the way it was sold, I thought we were getting a greyhound.

I like the sound of your wife.  What does she do?

She’s a nursery manager and is incredible at her job.  The challenges she overcomes on a daily basis are admirable.  She’s also a very keen walker and drags both me and the dog on treks far longer than our legs are always up for…I have to say she’s incredibly patient as well!

Tell your legions of fans, how have you grown professionally within your role at Igne over the past 25-odd years? 

So, over the last 30 years, every new role or position of responsibility has tended to require a steep learning curve.  I’ve learned to embrace these challenges and lean on the near 30 years of varying experiences to make a success of each new role.

You’re one of our Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) aren’t you?  Has the aforementioned interest in psychology helped you in that role? 

It’s certainly added to the exceptional training that came with taking on the voluntary the role.  And having MHFAs in the business is 100% a good thing.  There are so many challenges people are facing and increasing external pressures – to have mental health support around you from well-trained colleagues has to be a good thing.

Ok that’s enough about you - what does the future hold for Igne? 

There are so many positive things going on at the moment.  Significant growth, new and diverse services, ever-expanding talent acquisition, investment in our people, new premises, investment in equipment, new technology and software, new vehicles etc.  It’s head spinning!

At the moment, I’m in the process of relocating our Airdrie lab to a much larger premises in Bellshill with a bespoke fit-out under way which, when complete, will facilitate a massive expansion and modernisation of our capacity and services, so that’s pretty challenging but exciting.

One of the biggest things for me is the people we have assembled and continue to assemble in our teams.  People with significant experience which is absolutely invaluable in our industry to be successful but equally as important - good characters, enthusiastic about what we’re building and invested in working together to continue to enhance our growing reputation.

We have Pete (Godfrey) Director of Materials Testing who is leading the charge. We’ve also managed to attract some really experienced client-focussed managers like Ryan Hobson at Barnsley and Darren Berrill and Maria Chandler in Daventry who’ve in turn assembled very experienced professional teams around them.

More recently, we’ve added Richard Prescott and his team to our ranks with a new surveys division in Warrington.  This all compliments our well-established teams in Scotland with Craig Donnelly and Cameron Loudon, in Newcastle with Michelle Selkirk and Graeme Scaife and in Aston Clinton with Julie Hopkins and Marvin Brown.

We’re also lucky to be supported by two of my long-standing friends, Ross Hamilton (National Sales Manager) and Paul Breslin (ESG Director) in key roles.  Both have excellent technical knowledge and experience in construction materials testing operations which is such an advantage and enhances the business as a whole.

Tell us something about you that most people don’t know? 

I went to China last year for some supplier meetings and was flying in to meet a colleague who was travelling from a different airport.  The colleague was well-travelled in China and knew many of the people we were going to meet.  Imagine my stomach lurching panic when his connecting flight got cancelled and he failed to appear.

I managed to get myself to the hotel and even make the supplier visits.  So far so good, but then I was invited to lunch.  As I was the guest of honour, I was invited to choose the food we ate – which consisted of turtles swimming in tanks and all sorts of live animals wandering about, and carcasses hanging on the walls I still have nightmares about it all to this day.

Picture an I’m a Celebrity Bushtucker Trial.  My panicking feeling grew, I became less and less hungry and in the end, I just chose the most common looking foods - anything that wasn’t moving.

So, what did you actually order? 

Basically, lettuce and noodles and water…

And on that bombshell.  It’s goodbye from him and it’s goodbye from me.  Thanks for reading!