In conversation with Sandy McBride

Last week, I caught up with Sandy McBride, Divisional Chairman at Keepmoat Homes, to chat about his career to date and his thoughts around the world of work after the pandemic.

Describe your role:

I am Divisional Chairman for Keepmoat Homes North West and Scotland Division. I have executive responsibility for the four operating regions and I am a member of the Keepmoat Homes Executive Board.We are a division that excels in operational delivery. Our business is built on  partnership relationships and the delivery of quality housing at affordable prices. On a regional basis we build and complete both private for sale and HA / RSL contract build homes.Last year Keepmoat Homes completed over 4000 new homes with turnover in excess of £ 650m.

Career highlights so far?

There are many. I started out as an apprentice quantity surveyor a long time ago, fell in love with house building and progressed through the ranks from qs, on to Commercial Director, Managing Director and Divisional Chairman. I am a Chartered Quantity Surveyor  MRICS by profession.I have had the fortunate experience of starting regional businesses and seeing them flourish to success. Taking my teams on this journey and seeing their careers develop is exceptionally exciting, challenging and rewarding.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A footballer until I was a teenager and realised I wasn’t good enough to make a career from it.What advice would you give to your younger-self ?

Be more tolerant and understand that people act and react the way they do for specific reasons.  Treat everyone and anyone as you expect to be treated by them.

Best business advice you have ever been given?

KISS. Keep it simple stupid!Breaking issues down and keeping everything as simple as possible has kept  me on the right path to manoeuvre through the day to day  duties and responsibilities in our industry.

Biggest personal change for you post pandemic?

Our business will be changed forever in my mind. Whether it be how we operate at site level or the home working possibilities I do believe this pandemic will fundamentally change how we have been operating forever. However, some of the outcomes are already delivering positivity in how we do things. It is no longer the case that “ we always do that this way”, and I like the way we are changing and finding exciting new ways to operate on a day to day basis.

What will the world of work look like after the crisis is over?

Different! I think if you are looking for a positive out of the Covid 19 pandemic it is that it will ultimately change our home and work lives for the better. It will be a new , changed and opportunistic world that we are moving towards. Having said that I don’t think the pandemic will be over any time soon.