Property Focus: The Interview – Sean Espinasse

Sean Espinasse, an associate with Birmingham-based architectural interior designers Monteith Scott, talks dream first jobs and following bad advice in Property Focus.

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?

While the available space within the region is abundant, it is all pretty much equal. There is no real point of difference or true multi-functional space.

2. Why do you think the West Midlands is a good place to do business?

Geographical location is an advantage with a less uptight attitude than the London market. People are good at discussing business opportunity without being protective.

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

Trains that run on time… surely that’s not impossible?

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

Barriers are often self-imposed and so time is often the only way I have found to overcome them.

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

My first job was in leisure design, which meant spending most of my time in bars and nightclubs. It was great fun and being paid for it was so natural. Designing, people watching and looking for new and innovative ways of allowing people to make connections.

It seemed a natural progression to move those principles into the workplace and I still draw on those early observations today. In a social arena, our body language and thoughts are open, tuned in and on high alert.

In contrast, in the professional arena the norm is to be considered, political and protective. The background and design principles that are the expected of one environment are increasingly becoming the ‘new ways of working’.

It is my belief that by affording individuals to grow in thought, in turn allows their employees to benefit from the creative solution they bring to a business. Investment in design is an investment in the future, as it should always support the needs and ambition of individuals.

6. What do you most enjoy about your job?

Thinking and talking to people – shared ideas lead to positive outcomes.

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

Take some time to make some sense of what you want to say.

8. And the worst?

Someone once told me I needed to play a different character when presenting/pitching an idea to a client. Having taken the advice and acting upon it, I can comprehensively say it was absolute nonsense.

If you know your subject and believe in your ideas, product or service then your enthusiasm for the project will be transmitted. If you’re not true to yourself, you have no measure.