Richard Milton, owner of MILWEL:
Since leaving education I have always worked in construction one way or another and have had the chance to learn from a lot of skilled people along the way.
When I first left school I got an apprenticeship with a large building firm in Barnstaple and went to North Devon College (now PETROC) on a block release course to gain my NVQ 1 and 2.
After I gained my NVQs I went to work with a group of builders from Bratton Fleming who between them had most of the trades covered. This experience gave me a broad knowledge of multiple trades.
I then went to work for a local builder putting my carpentry qualification to use. Being a general builder we completed a variety of jobs such as: roofing projects, renovations, extensions, painting, maintenance and repairs.
Since then, for several years, I worked for a large South West construction company mainly specialising in block paving and slabbing on various different types of beds with various different finishes. In my time with them I was always encouraged to move forward and I quickly became a ‘ganger’ in charge of my own jobs with people working under me. At the time I was the youngest ganger they had ever had- something I’ve always been proud of. With this position came the responsibility of dealing with clients on site, ordering and arranging materials and working with your gang to run and deliver each job. They also put me through my two-day site supervisor’s course and machine test for the wheeled loading shovel.
I have always wanted to start my own business and have been slowly building to that dream for many years gaining knowledge from the various tradesmen I have worked with and saving hard in order to do so. In February 2015 I felt it was time to have a go and set up MilWel with my wife Abi.
Thank you for reading.