“Now’s  not a time to rest on our laurels”

Steve Heeley took over as MD of Polypipe Building Products in 2020, having worked for Polypipe Group for more than 30 years.  


The best thing about the job is definitely the people that I work with. I’m in the  fortunate position of interacting with a lot of really  great people and figuring out what makes them all tick, and how we all tick as one.

Now’s  not a time to rest on our laurels. We’re approaching the next year with optimism, as there are some big opportunities for us and all businesses so we need to respond to the market as it moves.

Not surprising to say that managing a business through the Covid-19 pandemic is the biggest challenge facing every managing director at the moment. I think we have weathered the storm very well so far – not only as people and as a company, but more widely as a country. Within our manufacturing sector there is still uncertainty as we go into 2021, which I expect will continue beyond next year but returning consumer confidence will be a key indicator of success moving forward.

As an integral part of the construction and building industry we need to make sure that our first priority is that everyone lives in a safe and comfortable home. Since Grenfell, the construction industry has been forced to reassess the impact of ‘value-engineering’ which had arguably become ‘de-engineering’ in some instances over the years. There needs to be a change in attitude about how the industry perceives the value of construction products and I think that is coming.

Be self aware and ask why? I don’t have a specific motto but I regularly assess if we are going in the right direction by asking myself and the team why we are taking decisions and if it is the correct thing to do. It’s important to always reflect on the reason you are doing what you are doing and what you would change if you did it again. Be self-aware.

After years in business the lesson I always try to pass on is clear communication. Being clear in what you are communicating can have a tremendous impact, it can take away any uncertainty and ambiguity and hopefully ensures everyone moves in the right direction. I’m also lucky to have worked with a lot of talented people over the years who hopefully I’ve been able to learn from and which have helped make me a reasonable person to work with.

Disconnecting is crucial now, so I like to take a couple of hours with no phone, no computer and just get lost in a movie. Other than that I love to just watch the sea – particularly in a sunnier environment.


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