Director Chris Hamilton founded Hamilton Steel in 2017, to offer clients a personal and reliable steel construction service that they can trust. We sat down with Chris to gain a better understanding of the man behind the business.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background?
Prior to establishing Hamilton Steel, I worked for another construction company that carried out work similar to my business. Within this company, I started as a Construction Estimator and worked my way up to a Commercial Manager position, where I was responsible for growing a profitable portfolio of customers as well as looking at all aspects of the business.
What was the inspiration behind Hamilton Steel?
The simple answer to this question is my wife, Wendy. Because of my connections and experience, when I learned I was being made redundant from my old job, I thought I would simply find another role working for a different company in the same sector. Wendy, however, had other plans for me.
Wendy gave me the idea by reminding me that I had been running the previous company for the last few years and there was absolutely no reason why the next company I ran shouldn’t be ours. So I certainly have her to thank for that!
As the managing director, what does your job entail?
The only way I can answer this question is, what doesn’t it entail? I do everything, from answering the telephones, making the tea, taking out the rubbish and driving up and down the country to attend appointments with potential new clients!
How do you set Hamilton Steel apart from others in the construction industry?
I take great pride in the quality of service we offer to our clients. My company offers a level of service that is unmatched by competitors. One of the most alluring qualities of Hamilton Steel to potential clients is the amount of repeat business we get due to the due diligence we carry out before each project.
What kind of training and certifications do you have?
I have a variety of training qualifications relevant to the construction industry. I am certified by the Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS), the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), and the Asbestos Awareness Scheme.
What has been your biggest challenge as a business owner so far, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge as a business owner is maintaining a healthy work-life balance. As a business owner, I do occasionally find it difficult to leave enough time for my family life. When you work very long hours, it’s easy to get caught up in the business and neglect what’s most important to you.
What are your long-term goals for Hamilton Steel and how do you plan to achieve them?
Maintaining the solid relationships I have with my clients and continuing to provide the level of service that sets Hamilton Steel apart from other suppliers are the only things I have planned for my business’s future.
What are your values as a company leader?
My business is based on two key principles, honesty and hard work. As a leader, they are both the things I value most in my team the most. The greatest approach to guarantee the success of any project is to have a team that can be honest and open with one another in order to better work together to provide the best possible results for our clients.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
The most rewarding aspect of my job is seeing a completed project come to life that started with an idea and a piece of paper. It’s an incredible feeling to reflect on an initial chat I had with a client after a project is over and see the results we achieved for them.
Putting your work aside, what does work-life balance look like for you?
In my free time, I try to spend as much time as I can with my family and find the time to play as much golf as possible!
