Just one minute, Chris Saxton

Meet the chief executive of Morris & Spottiswood, shopfitting contractor based in Warrington.

Your first job: I left school in 1975 and chose to go into the construction industry as a trainee quantity surveyor with Jarvis. I stayed there for nearly 21 years, eventually becoming a director covering the Northern division.

Where next: Having left Jarvis, I joined Interior Services Group plc as divisional managing director for the North before moving to construction group Morgan Sindall where I spent seven years, firstly as managing director of the then newly acquired North West contractor Snape based in Manchester. I was then promoted to managing director of Morgan Sindall's regional construction division covering all seven of the company's construction brands. During this time we merged these brands into one company creating a new national construction brand Bluestone. I was appointed managing director of the new Bluestone business before joining Rok as executive director for their newly acquired Northern business.

First contract: The first project I worked on was a new Tesco supermarket in Sale followed by a multi-million pound computer centre for TSB in Wythenshawe.

Last contract: Each project has a different story to tell and I have learnt so much about how people work and behave. Hopefully I've been able to take my experiences forward and add value back in what I'm currently doing at Morris & Spottiswood.

First car: My first car was an Austin Mini Countryman. At the time I thought I had really made it – mobile at last!

Current car: A BMW 335d, which is easily the best car I've ever had.

Best decision: Plucking up enough courage to ask Lesley – my wife – out. It took me two months to do it and we've now been together almost 33 years. Then having two great kids, Heather and Andy, who we are so proud of and who are both currently away at university.

Worst decision: The worst decision is actually not making a decision. A good piece of advice I was once given was don't worry about making the right decision – make a decision and then make it right.

Current projects: Morris & Spottiswood operates a fit out, housing and maintenance business. Our workload includes fit outs to the retail, financial, commercial and leisure sectors, refurbishment and new build affordable housing throughout the central belt of Scotland; commercial, financial, retail, housing and public sector maintenance, both reactive and planned.

Five-year plan: With a growing list of blue chip clients, we plan to continue to build on our existing customer base by delivering a quality and service ahead of our competitors. We have now developed our strategy, which is to develop a leading position in each of our chosen fields of fit out, housing and maintenance.

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