Marvin Bennett

Managing Director

How did you get into the industry?

Upon leaving school, I undertook a YTS apprenticeship scheme with Cannock-based Linford Building Ltd as a trainee Quantity Surveyor within their interior’s division. I attended Further Education for 1 day and 2 nights a week, going on to become a qualified Quantity Surveyor and afterwards, working for various large and small contractors.

What was your vision when you started Bespoke?

Bespoke was born out of an interest in construction, but more so property, which has always been a keen interest of mine. Combined with a burning desire to be able to work for myself, as I never did like doing as I was told from a very young age; as my parents would testify!

When I started Bespoke, I preferred working in the Interiors sector, which back then was our primary type of work…a lot has changed since then!

The wide spectrum of projects we have completed since our inception has driven the constant evolution and exponential growth of the company, leading to where we are today as one of the region’s prominent construction companies, taking us on to property development and joint ventures with equity stakes as delivery partner.

What does it take to run a successful business?

Hard work and dedication coupled with thinking rationally, managing risk and of course treating others as you wish to be treated yourself. There’s also luck, of course we all need a bit of that! Although how much you get sometimes depends on how hard you try! Ultimately, you need to enjoy what you do, stick at it, and give it your all. If you do that, the rewards will be there for you!

If you had not got into this line of work what do you think you might be doing?

Well, other than playing for Man Utd or being the lead singer of The Stone Roses, a previous boss once said I should have worked on the Stock market, though not in what capacity – hopefully a trader which I think I’d have liked! Unfortunately, the school I attended didn’t offer that as an option during our careers meetings, so I never got the opportunity. My family maintain that I should have been a lawyer, although I’m not sure I have the attention span, or tact, to operate in a courtroom!