IN this week's SME Focus we hear from an entrepreneur whose experience shows the recovery in Scotland's house building market is creating opportunities for small and medium sized firms.

Name: Jim Geddes.

Age: 53.

What is your business called?

Kitchens by JS Geddes.

Where is it based?

We have design centres in Kilmarnock and at Hayes Garden Land, in Symington, near Ayr.

What services does it offer?

We design, supply and install luxury kitchens to the mid to top end of the marketplace. We use products such as Poggenpohl, Siemens, Miele and also supply our own range of luxury kitchens manufactured in Germany to our own specification.

We also offer a full project managed installation service and have regular in-house cookery events with celebrity chefs.

Who does it sell to?

We install our products all over Scotland, from Aberdeen to Stranraer, and the Islands, and occasionally in England. We are also due to install a project in France early in 2015.

What is its turnover?

Generally about £2.5 million. The turnover has increased year on year since inception. During the recession period the company still increased turnover although the percentage increase was very small compared to pre- and post-recession figures.

The housebuilding market is now back to the levels experienced pre-recession.

How many employees?

Twenty-one, many of whom have been with the company for many years.

When was it formed?

I started the company in 1984 at the age of 23.

Why did you take the plunge?

I have always had a desire to start my own business and having trained as an architectural technician and then completed an interior design course I began working with a company who specialised in kitchens and interiors.

I felt that I could give the client a better experience and got chatting to German kitchen suppliers who were keen to make in-roads into the UK.

It didn't take long to decide I was going to go for it, and after buying construction materials to house the three displays I ordered from Germany, I set about constructing the stud partitions for the showroom.

With a lot of help and advice from my dad at the time, the place was opened in August 1984.

I also had the other challenge of fitting in my wedding. I got married in the October of the same year to Mary, although I think she thought at the time was "be self-employed and get it out of your system - then get a real job".

Mary is now a director in the company

I believe the grounding with the architectural practice I trained with stood me in good stead for my future.

My very first boss was part of the "old school"of teaching his staff and his principles of work were, always do your job right, or don't bother doing it.

Very much a work ethic that our company adheres to.

How did you raise the start up funds?

I borrowed £1,000 from my dad to buy the materials to construct the showroom partitions and decorating materials (and I carried out the work myself). I also managed to secure six months credit from the German furniture supplier and three months credit from the kitchen accessory suppliers.

I then had to set about obtaining office equipment, desks, chairs, typewriters (no computers in those days).

Fortunately I was able to obtain all second-hand equipment at an auction sale.

I had tried to obtain funding from Scottish Enterprise and local government initiatives.

But it seemed my business idea and aged 23 went against me; so no government funding was forthcoming.

What was your biggest break?

We were very lucky early on that within the first month we sold three kitchens to family and friends.

This allowed us to invest in a small local advert, although I believe that the harder and smarter you work, the more breaks you get. At the beginning I had to be involved with everything from designing, selling and ordering for each job, taking in the deliveries from suppliers, delivering the kitchen to the client's house and removing all the rubbish from the site afterwards.

What was your worst moment?

Our first delivery from our German supplier was involved in an accident and the products were damaged and unusable. Our supplier really pulled out all the stops and delivered a replacement kitchen within 10 days.

We explained to our client what had happened and they were very understanding of the situation. It was a very quick lesson and taught me that business is all about challenges that have to be faced.

What do you enjoy most about running the business?

I love the design industry we are in and the ability we have to create room settings for clients. I also love the constant buzz from business and the chances to look at new marketing ideas and business opportunities. It is also a fantastic feeling to be in charge of your own destiny and be given the opportunity to develop others within the company.

What do you least enjoy?

Dealing with the many government regulations that all companies have to adhere to.

What are your ambitions for the firm?

We see our company progressing hugely in the contract market for housebuilders, which has shown excellent progress in the last 24 months. Should any opportunities arise to expand our business portfolio then we will. We are extremely diligent about expansion, as we have to ensure that growth will not compromise our quality of work and service.

What are your top priorities?

Customers, who dictate how successful we will be. To continue to increase turnover while maintaining margins.

What could governments do that would help?

The biggest issue in our industry is the lack of specialised training. Countries such as Germany have many college courses dealing with all segments of our industry such as design, survey, procedural systems, installation and many more. We budget and spend a huge amount each year on training our staff by sending them to Germany, Spain and to the UK to obtain specialised training in different sectors.