The Big Interview with Joe Boyle

We’d like to start by hearing a bit about your journey so far. Could you share some highlights from your career and what you are most proud of?

There have been loads of highlights over the years, from what we’ve built, who I’ve worked with and the recognition we’ve achieved.

I’m particularly proud of seeing colleagues and staff develop and thrive with just a bit of support, encouragement and direction. Winning the CITB UK Apprentice Employer of the Year in 2013, plus various NHBC and Trades Awards, and all the Sustainability Awards last year nationally are among my proudest achievements. I am also extremely proud of the fact that I’ve never had to apply for a job – being recommended or approached for each position is a testament to my upbringing focused on hard work, respect, honesty and treating everyone equally.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the building industry?

I always knew I’d work in the building industry, inspired by my father who was a Commercial Manager for a local builder, and was the typical path for young men in Ireland into trades.

Though I initially planned to do a joinery apprenticeship, my academic success and a push from my parents led me to pursue higher education in Building Studies in Derry, before moving to Aberdeen to study for a BSc Hons in Building Surveying at RGU, setting the stage for my career.

Have you spent your entire career working in the north of Scotland?

Most of it! After completing my degree in ‘96, I was fortunate when my Course Leader recommended me for a graduate position in Project Management at Scotia Homes.

I stayed with Scotia until 2005 when the draw back home to Ireland was too great and I headed over to catch the Celtic Tiger – the name of the housing boom at the time.

I worked for two housing developers, each with developments in NI and ROI, so I had to adapt to working in different currencies, regulations, local governments and authorities, and costs. At one stage I had 18 sites and a turnover of í60m on the go!

But then recession struck, so when Scotia offered me a director’s position in 2011, I jumped at the chance. The North East has been home ever since.

Tell us about how your partnership with W M Donald came to be?

I’ve worked alongside Willie and Elaine for over 25 years, since my first days at Scotia.

Willie, Ewan and Alistair (RIP) have been great mentors. As a Project Manager at Scotia, I knew where the experience lay I never shied away from seeking advice, whether from them or the squads operating the diggers and doing groundwork.

I’ve always found that showing respect to everyone, along with genuine interest in what someone is doing, builds respect and willingness to share knowledge. Only then can you work together for the same goals and objectives – that’s a true partnership.

We’ve heard that you have a particularly special relationship with W M Donald, outside of work and the building industry, relating to their charity work. Can you elaborate?

I was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in May 2017 by Professor Ah-See at ARI. Fortunately, my cancer was detected early, thanks to an endoscopy camera available to Professor Ah-See. Thanks to this piece of kit, the time from my initial test to the formal diagnosis was only six weeks.

Meanwhile, W M Donald was gearing up to celebrate their 40th anniversary. Throughout the year, they worked tirelessly to raise £60,000 for a local charity. Willie, Elaine and their team are known for their continuous charitable efforts, often flying under the radar.

During my recovery and remission period, I learned that W M Donald decided to donate the entire amount to Friends of Anchor, a charity that is a huge help to local cancer patients.

What truly moved me was seeing Elaine and Willie featured in a P&J article, presenting brand new endoscopy equipment to Professor Ah-See!

I must admit I burst into tears. To see such an act of generosity by such a humble family and their team, so others could have the same success and survive, it just blew me away, and is something I will never forget.

Launching your own consultancy firm is a significant achievement. What motivated you to take this step?

After experiencing a brain haemorrhage last year, I realised the importance of taking things a bit easier. Well, that was the plan at least.

I needed to keep my mind active or I’d be climbing the walls. That’s when I decided to explore more ways to use my experience to help other developers and landowners.

Following some advice, I decided to start my own venture properly. I got some help to set up my website and considered going solo. I chose the name Joe Boyle Ltd, figuring that using my own name would be more effective for attracting work than coming up with something fancy.

Since December, I haven’t looked back! It’s been busier than I had anticipated, but I’m really enjoying it. Same problems, different clients, same great consultants and contractors!

Looking ahead, what do you see as the most significant challenges the construction industry faces in 2024 and beyond? How should the industry prepare to address these challenges?

The industry has proven its resilience time and time again. Everything happens in cycles; this one just feels like we’ve never really climbed out of it.

Since 2008, it just feels like it’s one thing after the other – recession, banking crisis, oil and gas downturns, pandemics, fuel shortages, geopolitical tensions, fluctuating material prices and economic uncertainty with a lack of government leadership.

A shortage of skilled labour is always going to be the biggest challenge, encouraging the next generation and career changers to join the industry, as well as embracing new technologies, like offsite manufacturing, automation and AI, can only help.

This year and the next will test customer confidence and economic stability. Factors out of our control may lead to some businesses not surviving, as we’ve already seen. Despite this, we continue to diversify, explore other opportunities and offer alternative solutions.

By encouraging more partnerships, early engagement and adopting a collaborative problem-solving approach, together, we can get through this and come out better on the other side.

What are your aspirations for the future, both personally and professionally?

In recent years, I’ve been doing a lot of work in ESG, Net Zero and Sustainability, and I have recently qualified as a Chartered Environmentalist through the Society of the Environment.

With the move to Net Zero, there are many new regulations, such as the requirement for all new buildings to be heated using nonfossil fuels after 24th April and building to Passivhaus standard becoming mandatory beyond 25th April. The industry cannot ignore these shifts.

I aim to tackle it from a practical and deliverable approach and get rid of the jargon. We must find ways to implement these regulatory changes affordably and effectively.

And as for personally, my priority is the health and wellbeing of myself and my family. That’s much more important to me than any completion date.

How do you relax away from the stresses and strains of work?

I enjoy spending time with the family and our two rescue dogs. We make sure to do everything together, whether it’s enjoying our garden in the nice weather or taking walks at Newburgh and Forvie Reserve.

My son and I have a routine of going to the gym three times a week with a personal trainer. We challenge each other at circuits, boxing and weights, while he trains for basketball.

My wife Bronagh and I are contemplating getting alpacas after a training course on breeding and keeping them – a beautiful animal, but a big decision!

Recently, I’ve also been exploring my ancestry using a DNA test kit and Ancestry. It’s fascinating to learn about my family’s origins and the places they’ve travelled to over generations.