Glasgow numbers specialist relishes boom in Scotland's bar and restaurant trade

Neil B Hickey.

Age:

48.

What is your business called?

BCC Ltd.

Where is it based?

Glasgow.

What does it produce, what services does it offer?

We are project managers and cost consultants for all construction projects.

Who does it sell to?

We have a really varied client base. We work with architects and interior designers throughout the UK as well as being directly involved with clients in the bar and restaurant world. We have seen an upsurge in the number of these premises requiring refurbishments in the past couple of years as the on-trade sector grows stronger.

In 2004 we were introduced to Buzzworks in Ayrshire to work on the original Elliots in Prestwick, which we refurbished in 2014. Buzzworks is a company willing to push restaurant designs as far as they can, and we still work with them today. We have recently completed Scotts in Largs and also rebuilt Lido in Troon following a fire to the original restaurant.

In 2007 we started working for Di Maggio's group who have become one of our biggest clients. We recently finished the Anchor Line in Glasgow and are currently working on a large Café Andaluz in Aberdeen.

In 2015 we have our first Job with Arnold Clark for a very ambitious new car showroom design and I hope this will be the start of something new for us.

We also have a side niche in specifying synthetic football pitches to FIFA standards. We have projects in Australia and have been working in Sydney and Melbourne since 2008. On average I go about four to six times a year for a week.

What is its turnover?

Around £300,000.

How many employees?

We are a gang of five.

When was it formed?

1998.

Why did you take the plunge?

I had been working in London for a large quantity surveying practice as a cost consultant. I started getting involved with some architects doing competition work and I did this at night in the small hours, not so much for the extra money but I enjoyed the architecture and design these guys were coming up with. It was a joy to investigate their thought patterns whilst dissecting their designs. This got busier and busier and I became more frustrated with the projects I had by daytime. I decided to return to Glasgow and set up on my own and try and get involved with some of the architects in Glasgow that were pushing design boundaries.

What were you doing before you took the plunge?

I started work as a Quantity Surveyor in 1983, doing my professional exams part time. I think I was 15 or 16 when I started and my annual salary was £1700. I moved to London in 1988 and worked for a large QS practice based just off Oxford Circus. I was in London for seven years; it was a great learning curve and an intensive environment to work in. It was the time of the mobile phone introduction and the speed of response just went through the roof on projects.

How did you raise the start-up funding?

I had a bit of savings from my time in London, but only about £4,000. I took a room in an office and went for it. I also went to the local enterprise company for some funding for business cards, paper and an allowance towards IT equipment. However, what I got more from was just the weekly chat, encouragement and advice. It felt good to talk things out. My first job paid me £500, sorted for this month I thought!

What was your biggest break?

It was in 2007 and again it was competition work. We were working with a brilliant architect, Robin Lee. He pulled out a top design for Wexford County Council headquarters worth 30million euros. As soon as I saw it ejecting from the printer I knew it was special. It took a lot of all-nighters for us to get the scheme into the competition budget, but we did. I look fondly back on those times, where myself and Robin's team were buzzing with the proposed building. It was such an incredibly ambitious and technically difficult building. It was down to a team of some 15 consultants expertise, rather than just BCC, that the building came in on budget.

What was your worst moment?

During the peak of recession the guys had to give up their company cars and go to a four-day week. Fortunately it was only a four or five month period, however, I felt bad that the staff were having to work harder for less. Their loyalty will not be forgotten.

What do you most enjoy about running the business?

I like meeting architects, designers, and clients with the same ambitions and ideals. In Scotland and around Glasgow it can get a bit like a group of friends, I always like to hear how people are getting on, what they are doing and who with.

My favourite thing of all is working on a project that is a big success for that company and individuals. I never get jealous of anything we do. I just feel absolutely brilliant if we do a restaurant for our clients and it goes like a train, and they are pleased and proud of it.

What do you least enjoy?

Not being able to switch off ever. It comes with the job. I notice it mostly on family holidays; other families are totally on holiday and I am still 30% on the job - whether that is just mentally or on email.

What are your ambitions for the firm?

We would like to become a practice that is noted for working on out of the box architectural or design projects.

What are your five top priorities?

Make sure my staff are well paid; make sure everything we do is good; make sure all our clients get what they asked for; make sure we work on a Sky Scraper; retire at 60 to the French Riviera!! In my dreams...

What could the Westminster and/or Scottish governments do that would help?

Listen to operators and have more think tanks for decisions with people who will be affected by these decisions, it's easy really. Politian's don't know everything, yet they decide on these issues slightly out with their knowledge. Think tanks don't stop decisions being made, they possibly help to provide a better outcome.

Scrap Value Added Tax on domestic refurbishment or extension projects.

What was the most valuable lesson that you learned?

Be completely honest and up front about everything, no matter how bad the consequences may seem, they never are.

I would also say to work hard, but I think that comes naturally when you are enjoying what you do, so I would say work at something you enjoy doing and the sky's the limit.

How do you relax?

Watching my son play football or my daughter run cross-country on a cold Saturday morning with a hot coffee from Tinderbox.

I also do some tutorials at Glasgow School of Architecture, which I have no time for but love doing anyway. It's so refreshing and exciting to see the new talent coming through.