Installer Profile: 'From

"I have many hobbies; during the summer my wife and I scuba dive and visit places in our caravan."

FROM OVERALLS TO WETSUITS

We profile Kevin Pidd, kbb installer, deep sea diver, and budding author.

How long have you been installing and what areas do you cover?

I’ve been involved in the kitchen design, build, production business in one guise or another for around 27 years. I cover the affluent York area which is convenient for me as I don’t have to stray too far from home - usually around a twentymile radius.

What do you install and what’s your specialty?

I only fit kitchens now but in the past, I have been involved with all aspects of building.

Do you install yourself or do you have a team/teams of installers working for you?

I’ve previously employed people and had contracts with Commodore, Symphony, MFI, Wicks and Wren. At present I have scaled back my operation and now concentrate solely on Wren, preferring less money and an easier life. 

How did you become a kbb installer?

After leaving school I began an apprenticeship as a joiner with a local company call H. Bentley Joinery. I qualified as a 1st and 2nd fix joiner in 1991 and left the company because they started fitting specialist roofs on listed buildings, which I hated as it was dirty horrible work. After leaving I decided to take up a ‘temporary position’ with Moores Furniture Group which lasted 10 years! Whilst at Moores I worked within every department and eventually progressed to Continuous Improvement Manager. In 2001 I took a leap of faith by leaving Moores to start my own business.

If you weren’t an installer, what would you be?

I am a fairly extrovert character and I love to try different things. For example, in 2008 I auditioned for the X factor in Manchester as a dare; I didn’t progress as apparently, you need to be able to sing! In answer to your question, if I wasn’t a fitter I would have loved to have been an actor or something with a similar artistic flare.

What has been your biggest business challenge?

The biggest challenge I have had in business was managing the crash of 2008/2009. The sites we had contracts for in Leeds and Bradford stopped building overnight with no warning at all! This left us with tough decisions to make with regards to our workforce; sadly, everyone had to go as did all the vans tools etc. It really was a difficult time for all concerned.

What’s been your biggest personal challenge?

Like every small business owner, I live and breathe my business. The 

"I also write books! I once wrote stories for my daughter when she was small, usually about “Emlin, the Welsh oneeyed pirate, scourge of the Chid Sea” - a character we dreamt up together."

biggest personal challenge that my family and I have overcome was as above the big crash. Having to tell friends that you can no longer employ them was tough, on top of that we had to try and maintain a functioning business. Not a pleasant time at all. I think this is probably why I work alone now.

Do you have any concerns for the future of the industry?

I have a few concerns for the future of the industry. I think the most important is how to address the lack of people coming into the industry. I think this is mainly due to the government making it difficult at every turn to employ a young person. I think one way around this would be for the government to employ them, pay them etc. and organise work placements with companies, this would alleviate any paperwork and bureaucracy for the firms in question. Another concern is Health and Safety. I think at times its gone too far becoming Health and Safety for Health and Safety’s sake! I believe that common sense should prevail where possible. The question I always ask when talking to a H&S inspector is “when are we safe enough”? It’s an emotive subject that sometimes produces more problems than it solves in my opinion. What do you want to be doing in 1 year/5 years/10 years?

The same really for the next 6 years at which point I hope to retire.

Why did you join the BiKBBI and how long have you been a member?

I enrolled with the BiKBBI in January 2018 as a fitter for Wren

"I would recommend kitchen installation as a long-term career choice. Once you have undergone your training, it’s with you for life. People will always need kitchens so there is a long-term requirement for professional people to fit them."

Why should installers consider being a part of the BiKBBI?

I imagine that any fitter, either large scale or sole trader that doesn’t get their work from large contracts could use the BiKBBI as an effective tool giving to reassure and give customers confidence in their chosen fitter.

If you were a youth worker, would you recommend your career to young people?

I would recommend kitchen installation as a long-term career choice. Once you have undergone your training, it’s with you for life. People will always need kitchens so there is a long-term requirement for professional people to fit them.

What would I change about the industry?

This is a difficult question to answer, I guess everyone has something that annoys them, but overall, I like the way the trade works, it has come a long way in the twenty odd years that I have been fitting especially in the appreciation of the importance of the customer experience.

Have you a family?

I have been married to my wife Sandra for 25 years and we have a 19-year-old daughter who will be going to university shortly. This will trigger a new part to our life where we plan to buy a house in Hungary and take summers off work to fix it up.

What about hobbies?

I have many hobbies; during the summer my wife and I scuba dive and visit places in our caravan. In the winter, I am fixing up an old MR2 car and I also write books! I once wrote stories for my daughter when she was small, usually about “Emlin, the Welsh one-eyed pirate, scourge of the Chid Sea” - a character we dreamt up together. Just recently I have finished my first novel and published it through Amazon. It’s the first novel in a series Samuel and Michael adventures. The book is called NEGATIVE. Here is a brief synopsis

Dr Bloch kills a patient whilst administering electroshock therapy. As the patient dies their soul leaves their body which the doctor witnesses. Being a scientist and religious man, he determines that he will capture the image with a camera thus proving the existence of god and an afterlife. He enlists the help of Silas Grim a well renowned photographer who unbeknown to him is also a serial killer. Silas suggests a new technique “moving pictures” as a better way of recording a death. The resulting experiments embroil the pair in a hidden world controlled by the Jewish faith, leaving Rabbi Samuel and Rabbi Michael to clean up the mess. The book costs £2.14 on kindle download and £8.99 as a book This is a link to the book.

It has taken me around three and a half years to get to this point. The original idea came from a dream I had about a girl being chased through a subway in Tel Aviv. No spoilers from that as it doesn’t appear until the second book which I am a third of the way through.

"Just recently, I have finished my first novel and published it through Amazon. It’s the first novel in a series of Samuel and Michael adventures."