Coreena Ford, Chronicle and Journal Business Writer interviewed Neil Turner, our Director, this month for their latest Business Live’s “Business Leader – 10 Questions” edition, and here is what he had to say.
Q1. What was your first job (and how much did it pay)?
A paper boy and I earned £2.10 a week
Q2. What is the best advice or support you’ve been given in business?
Sir Peter Vardy taught me as a young architect that you’re never too important to pour the tea – it was, and is, a great piece of advice on humility.
Q3. What are the main changes you’ve seen in your business/sector, and what are the challenges you’re facing?
The advance of technology in architecture is the main change and the biggest challenges are designing more energy efficient solutions, along with the ever-increasing pace of life and speed of responses required on all projects.
Q4. How has the pandemic changed the way you work?
We have worked hard to maintain our studio atmosphere which allows all staff to learn, enjoy and foster the Howarth Litchfield team spirit. We have adapted to the changing business backdrop over the last two years, but not at the expense of our clients.
Q5. Who is your role model in business?
I work with many talented business leaders and look to learn from all of them. I wouldn’t embarrass them by naming them!
Q6. What would your dream job be?
I am doing my dream job and love the excitement and opportunities it brings me.
Q7. What advice would you give to someone starting out a career in your sector?
Architecture is long training process and then requires a lot of time to develop all the skills, so be patient and learn your ‘trade’, would be my advice.
Q8. What makes the North East a good place to do business?
I believe there is a core integrity within the people of this region and that is a highly prized virtue to possess across all areas of business life, in my opinion.
Q9. How important is it for business to play a role in society?
It’s key – we need successful business to drive the economy of the region and to create wealth and opportunities. Business leaders need compassion and a commitment to looking after the very people that love this region so much.
Q10. Outside of work, what are you really good at?
That’s a vain question – but sketching I suppose has become a love of mine, particularly through the last two years. It began as Lockdown Art and now I call it Post Lockdown Art. I have amassed quite a collection of drawings over this period, mainly of local architecture that interests me.
July 2022
