A business is nothing without its people

Lots of heads of business talk about their core values but Spenser Mills lives and breathes them.

Founded in 2018, Drakemoor are a building and refurbishment contractor specialising in the commercial, education, healthcare and private residential sectors.

Based on the outskirts of Maidstone, Drakemoor‘s HQ is 4,000 square foot of office space in a Grade II listed oast house, which perfectly demonstrates what they do for clients. An upgraded refurbishment with striking juxtaposition of traditional oak beams and vibrant colours, The Oast is a perfectionist’s reality, that Spenser and his team are proud to showcase as what they can deliver.

As well as quality in their delivery, respect, teamwork and integrity are the values that Spenser has ensured are integral to Drakemoor.

Drakemoor has a close-knit team of eight full-time and part-time employees. Spenser describes his team as his friends and family – quite literally –with his brother and three nephews on board, as well as a childhood friend and people he’s worked with for 20 years.

You only need to spend five minutes with Spenser to appreciate his passion for creating a healthy working environment for those he’s chosen to work with him.

There is a strict no eating policy in the working space of their offices, encouraging everyone to pause from work and get away from their desks to eat, rest and chat to team members.

“Work is important, but it can’t take over your life – and if it ever does, I will shut the business down,” said Spenser. “Scoffing a sandwich at your desk is not what we do here. It’s important to walk away from your desk and enjoy your lunch. Nothing is so urgent it can’t wait half an hour or an hour to fix. Welfare and wellbeing is more important.”

Drakemoor also like to reward their staff with events and celebrations, treating them to a day at the races or an evening of fine dining for example. “The business is not about me; it’s about my staff,” Spenser emphasised. “It’s nice to share our success, and while we can afford to, we will.”

Though he describes himself as ‘old-fashioned,’ Spenser has a very modern approach to leadership. Despite high turnovers in recent years, he doesn’t set goals, stating he doesn’t like to overstretch the staff when the focus should be on delivering high quality work.

“I am big on integrity; if I shake your hand and say I will do something, I will. Our customers know our quality is as good as anyone else’s if not better, and they trust us to deliver.”

The company carries out work for a range of clients but one of Spenser’s favourite projects delivered to date was a high-dependency baby unit on a live ward for the NHS, which took two days at a cost of approximately £30,000 per room.

“We put everything we had to it and absolutely smashed it out of the park –and with no noise,” he said, proudly.

Another special project was working on the infants’ school that he went to in the 1970s, which was a real labour of love, but something he simply had to do.

“We appreciate every piece of work we’re given; it doesn’t matter what the cost of the project is to us. We will complete a high-end delivery on it.”

Drakemoor have recently been recognised as the 17th fasted growing business in the South of England.

“I must give a big shoutout to the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. I think they’re the most friendly and welcoming organisation. They facilitate Kent-based contractors and the whole local supply chain to collaborate, which I love; ensuring local work goes into the local economy. The more we earn locally, the more we spend locally.”

Future-wise, Drakemoor want to continue working with local authorities and developers but are also looking for some residential sites to buy and build on themselves.

“We want to generate our own work,” Spenser explained. “Development is easy, it’s finding the right plots that’s harder.”