Caledonian Building Systems' Dave Turnbull offers an insight into company life

Why did you go into construction?

I joined the modular construction industry after 15 years working in the manufacturing sector. Working with companies such as Electrolux and Black & Decker gave me superb training and experience in engineering and marketing at a national and international level. It was the concept of constructing buildings off site that really attracted me to join the construction industry - it seemed such an obvious and good idea, and I've never looked back.

What training/qualifications do you have?

I have a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering along with several other qualifications, but the day to day experience of developing a construction business is the best training I've had.

What's the best thing about your current job?

It has to be variety and challenge. The variety of dealing with a range of people - clients, employees, suppliers, funders, advisors and all sorts of industry and public organisations on a day to day basis. The challenge is working within the off-site construction market, which has huge potential but is yet to be accepted as the norm. I want Caledonian to continue to be at the forefront of the industry's development.

What was your first job?

After school I started work as an apprentice in an injection moulding tool room where we maintained production equipment for vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers - a far cry from the construction industry! Careers are unpredictable things, but I firmly believe that you make your own opportunities.

What was your last job?

I've been in the modular construction industry for 12 years and although I've had different titles in different companies the job has essentially always been the same: developing new opportunities and growing the business.

What is your proudest achievement at work?

Developing the Caledonian business. As a team, we have grown Caledonian consistently year on year by around 25%. Now, with a £140m turnover, we are at the forefront of the development of offsite construction in the UK.

What do you see yourself doing in five years' time?

Off-site construction is addictive - I can't see myself doing anything dramatically different in the future. There's still a long way to go to get this type of construction accepted as the norm and in five years time I would like to see off-site construction being a fundamental part of how we construct buildings in the UK. It's an exciting time for our sector - I certainly won't be bored.

What is your ideal job?

I don't believe there is such a thing as the ideal job. Every job has its highs and lows. Without these, work would be a much duller place and none of us would learn any lessons or develop and hone our expertise.

What advice would you offer to people thinking about going into construction?

Challenge the norm - don't think that because it's always been done a certain way, that way is the best. The word 'traditional' is used to describe much of the UK's construction activity because it has been resistant to change - but change is what the industry needs in order to be at the forefront of innovation and to lead rather than follow.

Vital stats

Name: Dave Turnbull

Age: 45

Company: Caledonian Building Systems

Job title: Managing director

Lives: East Yorkshire