25 years of Guardtech: Q&A with Projects Director Conor Barwise

You're known as Mr Guardtech around these parts around these parts – can you tell us a bit about your journey, particularly the early days of Guardtech Cleanrooms?
 

Conor says: “I joined the Guardline Group back in 2006, and when I first started, my role was with stock control and I was looking at slow moving in stock for Guardtech Technology. My core strengths in project management were recognised by the management team so I moved across as a Project Manager to Guardtech Cleanrooms. 

 “At the time, we were installing flatpack cleanrooms from the Far East, but I soon identified that the model wasn't really working. After a few years, I moved this towards something more akin to the model that we now adopt today, based on lasting relationships with UK and European suppliers and contractors, building up a good level of trust and strong working partnerships.

 “Since I made the move to cleanroom construction, we’ve grown year on year. I moved into a Director role in 2013 and the company expanded even further when Mark [Wheeler, Commercial Director] and Ray [Wheeler, founder] came back into the business in 2016 from Micronclean.”

Do you think you'd still be doing what you are now when you first started?
 

Conor says: “No – when I first started, I was still quite young. Back then, it was all about understanding how a business runs and where I fitted in. There have been times when I've had an active role in each stage of the full project cycle, from sales to design and then project delivery to validation – and that's been a real benefit. Not just to me personally, but also in terms of managing the growth of the business, identifying the kind of skills and people we need in those in those respective departments.”

You're an inspirational leader at Guardtech and have been for many years – what advice would you give to any young people wanting to carve out a career in cleanroom technology and controlled environment construction?
 

Conor says: “In terms of young people and also managing growth, there's a quote by Winston Churchill that always resonates with me – ‘Success is moving from failure to failure with the same amount of enthusiasm’. I think it's all about embracing failure, or making mistakes, for what it is – it's a learning experience. Now, when I was part of what was a smaller company in the early Guardtech Cleanrooms days, failures didn't have such an impact. And in some ways, I feel bad for the younger or less experienced staff that come in, as they must feel like they don't have that bit of grace to make mistakes on large-scale projects. But the reality is, we support them all the way with things that go wrong and we learn from it – and it’s critical that we still we try to still build that that into our culture.

 “So, I think that would be my core advice for anyone new coming into any role – never get disheartened, just learn, learn from any experience and the wiser heads around you. As for the industry, embrace it. You know, like any job, you've got to throw yourself at it and be prepared to build that knowledge. We cultivate knowledge-sharing within the business. I love learning, and what better way to learn than within a niche industry in which you can become a specialist quite quickly if you commit yourself to it.”

It's a special place to work. What is it about Guardtech that sets it apart from the competition? 
 

Conor says: “I think remaining flexible. As the business has grown, we've taken on much more significant contracts. And those contracts require us to adhere to some stringent expectations and conditions. But that doesn't mean you can't be flexible in your approach and remain co-operative and collaborative with the client.

 “Responsiveness is always key – it’s something we really try to push through throughout all departments, to remain responsive and maintain the flexibility of our operation.

 “Seeing things through and not letting anything rest until a good job is done – that’s something all clients and stakeholders want, that you refuse to just ‘let go’. I’ve been involved with projects that have gone on for a year, two years – but we always stick with it and we always get the job done.”

What has been your all-time favourite modular cleanroom construction project and why?
 

Conor says: “I don't know if I could pick a favourite – some of the early builds where we were working to a new system with UK components and contractors, I look back at those now and think, ‘Yeah, that was a good move’. We built a cleanroom for Unipart in 2009 when I was three years into the business and starting to get to grips with it all. I'd moved the direction of how we delivered projects and it just all came together on that build – plus, they were a great client.

 “More recently, looking at how we’ve grown as a team and the support around me, I would say Elis Cleanroom and the project in Knutsford. Seeing an effective project manager that worked under my mentorship and an effective site team, we ended up picking up more business to act as the principal contractor. So that just demonstrated how far we've come and how much better we are than we perhaps give ourselves credit for.

 “We all have a level of apprehension on how much we can take on at times, and I do see the risk at times, but Elis was a really good experience – to take that on and deliver it on time and leave the client with a really great facility.”

What is your proudest moment in the past 25 years of business?
 

Conor says: “There isn't one moment. But the one thing that that drives me is that I'll always try to become better. There's never going to be a perfect project – because we can always do better. But I'm really proud of seeing the development of staff and people that have been here for years, seeing them grow, particularly the younger Project Managers. You look at them and you see the Guardtech mould. They’re delivering to a much higher scale all the time, with more complex projects and to a higher standard, but they also embody the culture of Guardtech and I’m really proud when I see that all come together.”

How do you see things panning out for Guardtech Group in the future and, more importantly, what do you hope to see?
 

Conor says: “Obviously, there will be expansion – our strategy is to have periods of structured growth and periods of stability to make sure that the resources we add in those trajectory periods can remain integral to the company – because you can't grow without having the team around you. 

 “Our vision is to be the leading cleanroom design & build contractor – and, as Ray has previously stated, the most respected, because not only will that bring you more business, but it's it leaves you with a better feeling when you feel respected by clients.”

For more information on the Guardtech Group, email sales@guardtech.com, call 0330 113 0303 or visit www.guardtech.com.