In conversation with...
Tim with a rogues’ gallery of tools from his time on site. “I always remember the Makita 9V batterypowered drill,” he says. “Both my business partner and I had one. But then he got two, because it wasn’t easy to change the bits. So I got two. Then he got a better saw, so I got a better saw. We were always looking for any tool that could make the job more efficient and better quality
When I’m planning my speech for the Build It Awards ceremony, I always like to take a sneak peek at who’s going to be there. Last year, a quick glance down the delegate list sparked a thought: quite a few of the companies were due a big anniversary in the next 12 months. Longevity, of course, can be a great sign of enduring quality, innovation and – above all – that you’re doing the right things for your customers. So, what better candidates to pick the brains of than these vanguard providers as they hit their major milestones? For this first instalment in the series, I spoke with Tim Crump, founder of Oakwrights – which celebrates its 25th birthday this year.
“I think our industry – the shows, the magazine. It’s all about passion, isn’t it?” says Tim as we settle down for our chat. It’s a word that crops up several times, and underpins both his and Oakwrights’ drive to deliver the very best quality. I’ve known Tim for over 15 years and have always been struck by his entrepreneurial spirit and deep knowledge about the construction world.