Leading from the front – How Scott Newland Keeps Projects moving
We catch up with Scott Newland, Commercial Director, about how he faces the challenges of leading multiple projects across the UK.
Hi Scott, tell us about how you start the week
I guess the first thing to say is that I’m in the business constantly, so I don’t have a fixed start to the week! I’m an early bird, so that’s the time of the day that I like to ensure that we have everything in place to issue quotes to customers.
During the traditional Monday to Friday working week, I set aside one day for strategic business management planning from my home office. This is critical to the business functioning correctly, as I am on site for much of the week and on the road between project visits. During my administration day, I ensure that our team have set contractors up and issued quotes as well as completed our project planning; it is vital that my team can then execute the plans as detailed to our clients and that I can then monitor all projects on site.
I have over 25 years of experience in the Design & Build sector and I’m very clear that the way that I lead the team from the front means that they are equipped to follow the same pattern of planning, planning and even more planning.
Do you have a mantra that you always go by?
I don’t have a particular saying as such, but I do live by the attitude that I will always find a solution – I don’t like to admit defeat!
What has been the key to your success at East On Commercial Interiors?
It’s very much about the personal touch and great teamwork. I am very hands on with all our projects and cover a lot of ground being present on site but our whole team has the same approach. As a result, I’ve been able to bring in some major household names to our client list; these are national businesses operating from multiple locations. What is key with all of these nationwide operations is the need for them to feel that we treat them as individuals and know that they can call me personally if needed. I think there is nothing worse than customers feeling that they can’t talk to a director at one of their suppliers.
We have taken the same philosophy into the way that I work with the Projects team, it is vital that I check in with each of them personally on a regular basis and that we bring them on so that they can progress in their own careers. I can only grow the team if they develop their skills and confidence and at the same time, I can only grow the overall business if I have delegated responsibility and trust them – after all, I employed them because I knew they were great in the first place!
How did you get into the industry?
I’ve done this since I was 17… I fell into the business by accident; at that age you don’t often know what career you are looking for and that certainly was the case for me… I went to work at office furniture manufacturer Sven Christiansen, which was local to me in Guildford, had a great visit to a factory in Kingswinford that really opened my eyes to offices and interiors and for the next 12 years worked within that sector.
Furniture is a specialist arena for me, I ended up as Sales Director, growing the business from an annual turnover of £300,000 to £3m and then launched my own Design & Build company. I was so confident that I could make this work that I launched with just £30! I then expanded this from furniture and traditional office workspace projects to a specialism in industrial and logistics, which continues to this day, with some of our key customers operating in these sectors. That £30 is the best investment that I have ever made!
After many years at the helm of my own company, I joined forces with East On in early 2024 and I’ve brought my same approach to business management here.
Tell us something that people might not know about you…
I’m a qualified interior designer! So when I am looking at a project, I am thinking practically as well as aesthetically. I think this adds another dimension to our services and we have introduced other team members to the business with the same approach. Just recently ,I was able to use this creative approach in a design we did for a rooftop decking area in the style of a musical keyboard in an old piano factory.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us?
I’ve been thinking about your question about a mantra that I work by and I’d like to change my answer! There is something I often tell myself and the team and that is, “always say yes”. For me, this means having a positive attitude in every project that we approach and it has always worked for us.
Thanks Scott, we’ll let you get back to your very busy week…
