Mark Watkin Jones,
Group Managing Director, Watkin Jones & Son
Ltd
Finalist: Businesses with more than 250 employeees
Watkin Jones & Son is
a medium-sized developer and contractor that
specialises in general contracting and house
building, particularly of student accommodation.
It has a current annual turnover of approximately
£110 million.
Mark has implemented many
key decisions in his five years as managing
director to help the company reach its goals.
During this period turnover has increased from
£62 million to £108 million, and
profit has risen from £4.2 million to
£12.8 million.
Through Mark’s vision,
Watkin Jones & Son successfully identified
a niche market in student accommodation, and
the company has since branched out into development
as well as house building, going on to be recognised
as a national, not regional, developer and builder.
Under Mark’s leadership, it has also set
up a waste management department, training and
HR departments, and reinforced its safety department
to receive a five star British Safety Council
rating, with an incidence rate six times better
than industry average.
Mark has given the company
real direction by implementing a focus on profit
as opposed to turnover, as well as empowering
staff to take ownership by delegating real responsibilities
to them. By developing job descriptions he has
been able to give staff a clear indication of
their core roles and through the introduction
of a meaningful results-based incentive package
for all, staff retention is high.
By investing heavily in the
introduction of regular, focused and detailed
reviews of all divisional activities, Mark has
been able to ensure staff are properly equipped
to fulfill their roles with the right support
services in place. In doing so, his ambition,
vision and commitment has seen the company continue
to grow while meeting all of its targets.
Tell
us something your colleagues don’t know
about you?
I am an experienced bungee jumper
Who
inspires you?
My father Glyn
What
is your top leadership tip?
Empower your people
