First job: Builder’s Labourer

First car: Ford Capri

What did the start of your professional life look like: I was an agency surveyor in Glasgow. A lot of running around trying not to get lost. Interesting time though and you learn a lot from that type of work.

Best advice received: When negotiating always try and let the other guy think he’s got something from you even if he hadn’t!

What do you like most about your job: The variety of properties we get to look at and the more unusual ones. I have always liked that the job means we are not chained to a desk.I also help mentor the trainees and graduates and it’s very rewarding when they qualify.

And least: The increasing audit levels to get a report submitted.

Biggest professional achievement or Biggest personal achievement: Professionally being invited into the partnership and latterly on to the management committee in the firm. I suppose in both categories I have recently been made a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS).

The repair most worth doing to your property is:……..The gutters need replaced!

How do you see the current crisis panning out for your sector: It’s a tricky one. Some sectors like industrial are likely to be fairly resilient. Leisure and hospitality are likely to take longer to recover. The main difference between now and last recession is that there is likely to be funding available and just before this the market was doing fairly well. I do think however that the residential market will recover first and there might be a bit of a lag in the commercial market.

How do you switch off: I’m not brilliant at that! I love to travel and when abroad I can up to a point. At home I like to golf, I cycle a bit and I am a bit of a cook.

What do you listen to in the car: They forgot to put a CD player in my new car so I have just found Spotify! Radio wise I enjoy sports and stations like Absolute 90s, Absolute Classic Rock and Virgin Anthems.

Which social media sites do you like: I prefer Linkedin. I am not a huge fan of Facebook and Twitter.

If you weren’t in your current job, what would you be doing: When I was young I wanted to be a pilot then realised I was scared of heights!

Favourite holiday destination: Dominican Republic to chill out. I also find the Far East fascinating. In the UK I am a big fan of the Lake District.