Member Article

Calum is new third generation broom in family firm

After spending countless holidays from school and university sweeping up on building sites, Calum Phoenix is now the new third generation broom in the family construction business.

He joins father Delwyn and mother Margaret at M J Phoenix and Son – the company founded by his grandfather Malcolm, with support from grandmother Ann, thirty years ago.

Quipped Calum: “I was trusted with the brush but wasn’t allowed loose with a hammer until I was 18. Now, just six years later, I am thinking about what we can do to take the business to the next level.

“When my gradad started it was mainly domestic work; garden walls and house extensions. Then my dad moved us into the commercial sector where we have done some really exciting projects, especially in refurbishment.

“I remember going to see the Bishop of Durham’s residence at Auckland Castle and the adjacent lodge after we had renovated them and it was a very impressive job I’d like our company to do more of that kind of work and also explore more avenues in sustainable construction.”

With a degree in Environmental Conservation Management under his belt, Calum, 22 and from Gateshead, is well placed to do that but just so he knows more about the industry – he has now also enrolled on a Construction Management degree at Northumbria University.

“I am really excited about the challenge now that I am in the family business,” he added: “Although that was not my original plan when I left school, I can see what a huge achievement it would be to take on something started by my grandfather and hand it on to my children.”

Said Malcolm Phoenix, who moved from Wales to the North East to find work in the late 1950s and set up his business after being made redundant 25 years later: “I am delighted that Calum has joined the team. His dad has done so much to improve and develop the company and I hope he can do the same.”

Delwyn Phoenix, who spent several years working with major construction outfits before joining Malcolm in the business, added: “Although this was not planned, I always thought it might happen, so when my father and Calum both asked me about him getting involved, it was an easy decision to make.

“He has already helped us to attain the ISO9001 quality accreditation and his degree is proving very helpful in our bid for the ISO14001 Environmental Management certificate. I think we might soon be able to give him a bigger brush!”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .