Then and now... Jon Kerr

In the latest instalment of Bdaily's Then and now series, Jon Kerr, founder and managing director of Swindon-based Kerr Office Group, reflects on his career, from his first role to the present day, highlighting the lessons he has learned from his personal and professional evolution.

You’re founder and managing director at Kerr Office Group. What does your role entail?

Back in 1986, when I founded Kerr Office Group, my role was always about client focus and delivering great experiences. 

This was alongside managing day-to-day business decisions and the commercial side of growing the company.

Today, my title is founder and managing director.

While I now have a much broader perspective and decades of industry experience, my focus hasn’t really changed: it’s still all about the client.

The big difference is that I’ve stepped back from most day-to-day decision-making and commercial tasks, which allows me to dedicate more time to clients, effectively taking on more of a project director role.

Did you always want to work in the office design and build sector? Or did you have other ambitions growing up?

I’ve always had an interest in property. 

My first role was in estate agency. 

I requested a work opportunity during my final year at school and was fortunate to be offered a Saturday job. That eventually led to a full-time offer before I even left school. 

I left school on a Friday and started full-time work the following Monday (I probably worked the Saturday too!)

What was your first job—and did you enjoy it?

At the estate agency. 

I loved it, partly because it felt like stepping into independence and feeling like a young adult. 

Beyond that, I genuinely learnt a huge amount and had the pleasure of working with a wonderful team. 

Were there any mentors or individuals that helped shape your career? And are you still applying lessons you learned then to your workforce today?

I started my business at 21, so there wasn’t much time to have formal mentors or role models. 

That said, I quickly learned to recognise the difference between success and failure, and to model behaviours that worked. 

Over the years, I’ve admired and learned from various people and businesses, and life coaches like Tony Robbins have had a huge influence on my personal and professional decisions.

Many of the lessons I absorbed then – resilience, accountability, continuous learning – are principles I continue to apply in my position at Kerr Office Group today.

What attracted you to the office supplies/design and build sector?

While working in estate agency, I saw a photocopier salesperson sell a new machine to my boss.

It appeared to be a wonderful job, travelling the country demonstrating photocopiers and what I thought was picking up easy sales and no doubt some decent commission. 

This was very timely as I had made the decision to move back to my parents’ home, 70 miles from where I lived, and hence had to resign from my estate agency job. 

While looking for work in my new town, I noticed an advert for a copier salesman in that area. 

The job paid twice as much, came with a company car and I was back living at home.

It offered the challenge I was looking for, so it was a natural next step. 

That was the beginning of my journey into the world of office supplies and, eventually, design and build.

How do you feel you’ve changed as a person over the years? Have career roles brought new dimensions to your personality?

Early in my career, I was very focused on delivering projects and proving myself. 

Now I’ve learned that trust, accountability and strong ethical principles matter just as much, if not more, than technical skill.

My roles have also taught me empathy and patience, and I’ve become better at listening, making considered decisions and building long-term relationships, both personally and professionally. 

You’ve seen many changes to the employment world across your career—how do you see the workplace evolving in years to come?

We’re often asked, based on the assumption everyone now works remotely or in a hybrid way, whether there’s still a need for physical offices since COVID-19. 

Our answer is yes.

One thing we are seeing now is an increasing desire to be in and around the workplace. 

At the same time, the impact of artificial intelligence on workspaces and operations is something we need to monitor carefully. 

Many businesses will need to adapt rapidly and embrace change, otherwise they will be left behind.

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