Property Focus: The Interview – Andrew Todd

PROPERTY Focus chats to Andrew Todd, regional director for the Midlands and South with elevator manufacturer and installer Kone.

If you are interested in taking part in ‘The Interview’, please email tamlyn.jones@thebusinessdesk.com and click through to see all our previous Property Focus Interviews.

1. What are your views on the current state of the commercial property and property development markets?

There is definitely more confidence building up in the property and construction sector at the moment. Rightly or wrongly, we tend to measure the heartbeat of London to gauge the health of the UK’s commercial activity and I believe it is currently the best it has been in the last two to three years. This is starting to spin off into the regions which is certainly good news for our economy.

2. What are the key challenges and pieces of legislation you think will most affect your sector over the coming months?

There is some legislation around specific safety issues for lift products to be installed in existing buildings coming in to force in two phases in July and January but our R&D teams are already well ahead of that. Our biggest area of focus is in eco-efficiency and continued improvements to our products in this area. We have already made the majority of our products 50% more energy efficient and will continue to go even further.
 
3. Why do you think the West Midlands is a good place to do business?

The Midlands has a large and thriving property and construction sector and is set right in the heart of the country. It has people who want to make the region a better place to live and work and are not afraid of hard work or speaking out to get things done. We launched a West Midlands office last year because we recognised the strengths of the region and that it is a hotbed of opportunity.

Our investment has already paid off and we’ve recently recruited three additional staff to meet demand in our growing service arm. We have had a number of smaller offices in the region for some time which enabled us to develop strong relationships with local players.

4. What is your favourite building/development in the West Midlands and why?

I am going to be greedy and go for two I have worked on – Colmore Plaza and One Snow Hill in central Birmingham. They are landmark buildings that have made their mark on the city’s skyline.

5. If you could improve anything in the region, what would it be?

The West Midlands lies at the heart of an amazing infrastructure which remains a great asset but needs upgrading. The High Speed rail link will bring Birmingham and the West Midlands into the 21st century and the spin off benefits will be incredible.

6. What barriers have you faced during your career and how have you overcome them?

There are challenges every day, especially as customers become more demanding in our service delivery and their appetite for state of the art technology. However, I’m fortunate enough to work with a great team of people who continue to innovate in order to meet and hopefully exceed client’s expectations.

7. What was your first job and how did you enter your current line of work?

My first job was in the sales department for Tandy Electronics. I was fed up of working Saturdays as they curtailed my Friday nights out which in my early 20s were obviously a crucial part of my weekend. I was sitting on the underground and saw a Kone advert for sales managers.

I researched the company in the local library – Google wasn’t invented then – and liked what I saw. I have been promoted on the way and now head up the commercial and operational teams for the Midlands and the South of England.

8. What do you most enjoy about your job?

Without a doubt, it is the people that I work with, both in house and on the client side. I find those working in the property, construction and services sectors tend to be down to earth and fun which makes life far easier to deal with, especially when the pressure is on.

9. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

When I was young my mother used to tell me that I had been given two ears and one mouth for a reason. At the time, I didn’t take much notice but as I grew up I started to appreciate what she meant. Listening and respecting what others say is a very important part of life.

10. Worst piece of advice

Real ale doesn’t give you a hangover, you will be fine.