Member Article

North East festive focus with: Rob Charlton, Space Group

Ahead of North East firms shutting up shop in time for a well-earned festive break, we’re quickly catching up with a few of the region’s business leaders before their holiday festivities begin.

Today we welcome Rob Charlton, CEO of Gosforth-headquartered architects Space Group, to share his thoughts on the year gone by, the region as a whole and what he plans to do this Christmas.

Your Business

If you had to choose one thing - what are you most proud of your company achieving this year, why?

I am most proud of our people and particularly the younger members of the team who have just started out on their career. Often young people are given bad press. This is not my experience and I find our young spacers professional and with a determination to learn.

What was the single biggest challenge faced by your firm in 2016?

This year one of our colleagues passed away after a two year battle with cancer. We were all hugely affected as we are a family. However his life has been an inspiration to us all.

Can you tell us one thing your business is doing in 2017 that really excites you?

We have hosted a national conference for the last five years. In February 2017 we are bringing BIM Show Live to the North East, where the idea was first conceived. Our region is increasingly being acknowledged as the centre of digital construction and we aim to reinforce that notion with the event at the city centre’s Stephenson Quarter.

Your Region

Which North East firm has impressed you the most this year, why?

Not strictly a company, more a public private partnership – NewcastleGateshead Initiative is a fantastic organisation with some great people. They do brilliant things for the region which benefit us all.

Are there any emerging businesses in the region that’ve caught your eye this year that you’ve been previously unaware of?

Design visualisation studio EYELEVEL on High Bridge is a company we have worked with previously but were not aware of some of the technology they were innovating. They have developed a dynamic application linked to real environments and GPS. It’s really clever and I haven’t seen it previously.

Is there an industry or sector of the North East business community which you expect to really take off next year?

We are starting to build a digital construction cluster in the North East. We have seen a huge increase in awareness in the region and I anticipate this to continue throughout 2017.

Yourself

What was your first job?

Delivering the Tyneside Times (who remembers that publication?)!

If you weren’t doing what you do, is there a job you’d love to have?

It may sound boring but I can’t imagine doing anything other than what I do now. I work for and with many great, impressive people. We are able to make a difference and be creative – it’s incredibly rewarding. What else do you need?

What do you do on Christmas day?

All the usual stuff but most importantly, just enjoying a lovely day with the family. Presents, breakfast, lunch, sleep, TV, turkey, bed… repeat!

Thanks Rob.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →