Meet our Management Team
Welcome back to our ‘Meet the Team’ series!
You’ve met our Board of Directors, so in this article we’re going to touch base with our Management Team who have 30 years of combined industry experience, with the individuals being a part of the Inscape Interiors team for at least 10 years!
So, who are our Management Team?
Our Management Team consists of 2 friendly faces. From left to right please meet;
Tom McFaite – Senior CAD Manager
Lee Gelder – Production Manager
How would you describe yourself?
TMc: “ I would say I’m a very committed person in all aspects of my life whether that be family or work. I think I am quite easy going and am always ready to have a laugh, but when it calls for it I can be serious; I’d say I can adapt easily to whoever I’m talking to or the situation I am in. Outside of work I spend most of time with my family; we have two kids under two at the moment so a little chaotic but wouldn’t change it for the world. Hobby wise I like attend music concerts/festivals and go on the football (super clarets).“
LG: “ I would describe myself as a dedicated, enthusiastic team player who leads from the front.“
How do you resolve conflict in the groups or teams that you are a part of?
TMc: “Thankfully we all get on so well here so disputes are few and far between. Obviously how it is managed depends on the situation but I personally think it is best to address them straight away before it can escalate. Rather than impose a management style that dictates, I would mediate and lead them to understand each other’s views on the matter and help them come to a sensible win win solution where the conflict can be avoided.”
LG: “It is always important in these situations to approach them calmly and with an open mind. Firstly understand what the problem is, then listen to all persons involved point of view but stay impartial. Once all this is understood you can help all parties reach a mutual understanding and a reasonable resolution that suits all.”
With so many organisations to support, why should others choose to support Inscape Interiors?
TMc: “The main reason for me is how passionate and dedicated everyone at Inscape Interiors is. It’s so difficult to communicate this to our customers and stakeholders in a way they can really understand. From the outside they don’t see us losing sleep thinking about how to resolve issues for our customers, sacrificing time with our families to ensure needs are met, how disappointed we are if mistakes happen and how good we feel when we have been the difference from a project failing to being a success. That whole culture is one of the main reasons I love working here. When you have people around you that genuinely care and collectively work towards the common goal, of both the customer and the company, it makes your job so much easier and hopefully does the same for our customers.”
What have you learnt about yourself whilst working at Inscape Interiors?
LG: “That the human body can survive on 4 hours sleep a night! Ha. I have learnt that I am a committed and dedicated person which will do whatever is needed to help the company succeed and thrive. I’m happy to swap shifts around and work through the night and weekends if that’s what it takes. I’ve learnt that my passion and drive to watch the company thrive and succeed is more important to me than getting my 10 hours! ”
Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?
TMc: “ I think this is impossible pin point it to one person. From an early age my parents were in a position of high management for a large business. I used to go into work with them over the weekends, watched them doing accounts at home until early hours during the week and generally doing anything that was required of them to ensure the job was done. I think I have got a lot of my work ethic from them. They were always committed to whatever they did and instilled that if a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing properly. I also have our Gary Wynne to thank too. I started working under him at 19 years old and he has had a lot of time for me over the years training me up and being firm but fair really which has pushed me to better myself. Working in the same office as him for 10 years and seeing how ambitious he is and how he applies himself to the obstacles in front of him has definitely had a positive effect on me. ”
LG: “Several people have, mainly people within the company. People have different qualities which I try to incorporate into my approach to work which helps me to constantly try and up my game.”
What behaviour or personality trait do you most attribute your success to, and why?
LG: “People skills! In the industry we work in, I think it is important to build and maintain good relationships with people and not just in a business sense. If you can build personal relationships, people will always trust in the things you ask of them and always strive to help you and vice versa.”
What’s a mistake you made early on in your career, and what did you learn from it?
TMc: “Not sure whether you will call it a mistake or just an oversight, but one that stands out for me was driving 200 miles to an active RAF base for a site meeting to undertake a survey, only to find that I didn’t have any form of ID with myself so I wasn’t able to gain access. I then had to drive a further 400 miles to collect my ID and get back in the same day which turned an 8 hour day into a 17 hour day. It was a day lost to the customer, myself, an overnight stay away from home and the additional cost of fuel just because I wasn’t thinking. It was nothing major and no real harm done but definitely taught me the importance of spending the time early on in any process that you do to ensure you have everything required to do the job correctly the first time. The impact of errors effects productivity threefold! ”
LG: “That I knew everything and that my way was the best. I learnt that you never stop learning and that there are always improvements that can be made and if you don’t believe that you are in a fixed mind-set.”
What led you to this career?
TMc: “Serendipity. The construction industry wasn’t something I always aspired to have a career in. It never even crossed my mind really, probably because at the time the education system didn’t put any emphasis on the opportunities that were available like they do now. I originally wanted to have a career in graphic design but we were in the recession when I left school so jobs (especially trainee/junior positions) were hard to come by. I found an ad for a Trainee CAD technician and thought it would give me some experience on my CV for when something else popped up. After spending a few years with that company, I started with Inscape Interiors and really started to enjoy coming to work. The people here are brilliant and working in the manufacturing industry, no day is ever the same.”
What energizes you at work?
TMc: “Coffee.”
LG: “Growth. To become bigger and better at everything we do. I want people to look at us as a company and be jealous they are not a part of it.”