Direct from our directors: Paul Spencer

Our ‘direct from our directors’ series continues, and this time we spoke with our managing director Paul Spencer – who shared his advice for success in the industry, how he found the transition from engineer to MD, and the best advice he has received in his career.

Paul has been part of the Rodgers Leask team for 25 years, joining the board in 2009 and becoming managing director in 2018. During his time as an engineer, he worked on a multitude of high value projects across several sectors including education, multi-storey residential, industrial and logistics. In his role as managing director, Paul drives our strategic objectives and provides leadership and stability across the business.

What do you enjoy most about your role as managing director?

As managing director, I really enjoy having the opportunity to be able to create and implement strategies for the business which will lead to future success. Whilst there is a degree of pressure in the role, there is also a lot of freedom to set my own agenda and deal with important things that affect the business now and into the future. The opportunity to see our colleagues develop, mature and move up through the business is also very gratifying.

If you didn’t go into engineering, what career path do you think you would have taken?

If I hadn’t followed a career in engineering, I think I would have probably either undertaken some training to become an electrician or possibly joined the army. Either way, my life would have been very different if either of these alternative career paths had been followed.

Is there anything you learned as an engineer or any skills/qualities you have that you think make you a better managing director?

Engineering is all about problem solving and being practical. If you can’t ‘see the wood for the trees’ you will struggle. It is also true to say that sometimes you just need to knuckle down with a project and push through to completion no matter how hard or painful. These same characteristics also apply to running a business. Common sense, clear thinking, attention to detail, decisiveness and tenacity are all traits that have helped me to become a better MD.

What advice would you give someone looking to transition into a director role?

If I were asked by someone who is looking to transition to a director role, I would advise them to not be afraid of their responsibility, to speak up and voice their opinions, and don’t think that everyone else has the answers, because they usually don’t!

What qualities do you think a managing director in the engineering industry needs to have to succeed?

If I had been asked that question 10 years ago, I would have given you a completely different answer. In the modern world, an MD, or a manager, needs to be more attuned to the needs of their staff. It’s now about trying to make sure that staff are treated really well, giving them a clear career path and opportunities to develop, and setting up a business strategy that reflects their social, environmental, and personal aspirations, as well as making sure that the business remains financially viable and delivers profit.

What are you most proud of in your career to date?

I think I am most proud of a couple of things in my career so far. On a personal level, the attainment of Chartered Engineer status and MICE recognition was important for my own self confidence and helped move my career forward. It is something I would recommend all civil engineers progress towards if they can.

The other thing I am most proud of is in helping the business navigate its way through the past few years which have seen unprecedented upheaval. However, we have come out of this period stronger and better than before with a clear direction for the future.

What is your favourite book, film and album?

Favourite book: The Wheel of Time by Rober Jordan.

Favourite film: Pirates of the Caribbean.

Favourite album: The Stone Roses by The Stone Roses.

What is the best piece of advice you have received?

There are two pieces of advice I have received during my career that have both stuck with me, they are:

“There are only two reasons to be in business – goodwill and profit.” One creates the other eventually.

“Don’t be scared to say what you are thinking – most likely others are thinking the same!”

Who do you most admire in the engineering industry?

That is an easy one – Andy Leask. Andy is an exceptional engineer. His knowledge, understanding and experience is amazing, and I wish I could be half the engineer he is. I have been very lucky to have worked for someone like Andy with those skills for so long. It’s probably the reason that I forged my whole career with Rodgers Leask.

Do you have a life philosophy?

My philosophy for life is simple – “Treat people like you would wish to be treated yourself”. Give people recognition for a job well done or offer support and assistance if someone needs help.

What do you think your best quality is?

I think my best qualities that are utilised in my role are paying attention to detail, being able to make a decision (and dealing with the consequences) and seeing things through to a conclusion.

What is the single biggest change you have seen throughout your career?

The single biggest change I have seen in my career has been in the development of communication. The changes from fax and post to email and virtual meetings has been massive over the past 30 years or so. While this has meant that information is far more accessible, it has also meant that the time for people to think things through and consider things becomes compressed – increasing stress and pressure on individuals to make decisions quicker.

What makes a good engineer?

While you might think that a good engineer is all about being good at maths, I think that it’s more about having ‘a feel for it.’ Common sense, and an ability to see how something is going to be constructed efficiently and safely are vital. Add to this, the ability to be able to communicate effectively through sketches and verbally to others is what makes an engineer great!

What do you do in your spare time?

To take my mind away from work, I like to play a bit of sport to keep fit, including five-a-side football and running. I have recently been badgered into taking up golf and am finding this a ‘lesson in patience.’ I also like to spend my free time building models and creating 3D prints and laser cutting items to embellish them. All these activities are interspersed with a good dose of socialising with a close- knit group of friends and family who are a vital source of support.

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