From the frontline

Tell us what your job involves.

I’m environmental team leader. I lead a team of 25 environmental operatives, providing a property maintenance service, 24-hour customer service and security for high-rises.

We’re also part of the community that we deliver services to, to help our customers lead a better life. I have four tower blocks I manage in the east end of Glasgow. It’s 8am-8pm, then a second shift.

How did you get into this career?

I was sitting reading the Daily Record in 1990, and I saw an advert for a concierge. I was lucky enough to get that job and it was a scheme back then for every high-rise in the city of Glasgow.

I joined Glasgow Housing Association in 2003, then changed roles to be customer service officer.

What’s the best bit of your job?

You get to meet new people – I get to meet customers, and different colleagues when staff come and go. We’re doing a lot of maintenance and you see people really happy in their homes. We make a real difference to people’s lives.

I really love my job. I always say to the team, someone believed in you at interview.

Someone took a chance with you, so always do your best. I’ve had some guys who’ve left to become supervisors.

And what’s the worst bit?

When someone is taken ill. We get to know the residents and we go to visit them in hospital as well. One customer died and we went to his funeral.

He was a customer of ours for a number of years, and a very nice person. Sometimes, you can have a bad day, but all the rest means it’s worth what we’re doing.

If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?

Super intelligence! If I were a super genius, I’d like to be able to cure all the sickness in the world.

What do you do with your free time?

I used to run but I had a really bad accident. I like walking – I have two toy poodles.

I still do a lot of running for charity, raising money for the hospital and the British Heart Foundation.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out?

Always work hard. Always remember that our customers are why you’re working and keep raising the standards. Enjoy your work.