I’ve been in the construction industry since 1976, starting off as a junior engineer and working through the ranks to business board level. In 1996 I was trained in coaching as part of an organisation transformation programme. This changed my career direction and for the last 25 years I have been coaching teams and executives leading big business and big projects.

Personal development is one of my values; I have been ‘in training’ almost continuously since 1976. My first degree is in civil engineering; I am a chartered civil engineer (MICE), a chartered builder (FCIOB) and a Master Certified Coach (MCC) with the International Coaching Federation - The Gold Standard in Coaching.

I am the author of five books, most recently including: Coach for Results and Stop Managing Start Coaching.

As a regular columnist for Construction Manager Magazine I focus on practical aspects of management and leadership and how to get the best out of people and teams, drawing on my personal experience as coach, industry practitioner and leader.

I believe that ‘things’ can be better for people in industry and when things are better for people in industry then industry is better, changed for the good. This is my business mission - to change industry for the better and I am doing that tiny little bit by tiny little bit one big project and one big business at a time.

As part of my mission I am creating educational content to teach 'real' skills that enable people to give of their best and get the best from those around them. Confidence is one such real skill; others include delegation and coaching (my other courses). Real skills are people skills - what some call soft skills, though not me. I think 'soft' undervalues them.

Physical fitness is another of my values, I am a former GB triathlete and am now a competitive indoor: cyclist, rower and swimmer.

I am the father of two creative sons and husband of a fellow educator who works with children with learning difficulties. I live in the North east of England.