Jayesh Hirani Face to Face as published in Glass News

One quarter of the Everglade Leadership team, Jayesh Hirani, talks construction, sports and commercial management.

Where you were born and live, currently…
I was born in a small town called Kisumu in Kenya and moved to the UK in 2001. I currently live in Harrow in Northwest London.

Your education and the subject or activity in which you excelled…
As my upbringing was in Kenya, I followed the Kenyan education system and attained KCSE’s qualifications which is the equivalent of GCSEs in the UK. After completing my KCSE’s, my parents’ aspiration for me was to study accounts and become an accountant. My aspiration for myself was to build and manage my own business therefore I started work and studied accounts part time. I was half way through my accounting qualification when the opportunity arose for me to make a permanent move to the UK. My strength has always been in numbers.

Your favourite sports or interests…
I am a great cricket fan. I watch as many international games as I can. Most recently I’ve been keeping up with England’s progress at the Ashes. There have been some pretty exciting matches and it was great to see England run away with it in the end. I have always been a keen badminton player and I dedicate one evening a week to play at a local membership only club. I also hold a keen interest in watching Formula one racing and keep abreast of current events in this area. In my spare time, I like meeting up and socialising with friends or spending some down-time at home with my family which includes taking my daughter for bike rides.

Your biggest regret in life…

No regrets. As I have learnt from the events that life has thrown at me.

Something or someone that inspires you…
As my aspiration has always been to be a high flyer and to own my own business, I derive my inspiration from the likes of Richard Branson who has always been fearless in his business ventures and has moved from strength to strength.

The temptation you can’t resist…

I love savoury snacks like peanut mix with crisps and chillies. They go down nicely with a cold lager at the end of the week.

When and how you joined this industry…

My family in the UK has a long history in the construction industry – Everglade is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year – and they were my support network when I moved here. I first started at Everglade in 2005 as an installations manager, working on both retail and commercial projects. As Everglade has grown and expanded, I have had the opportunity to move up in the company to hold my current position of Commercial Manager. The three main components of this role are design, project management and contract negotiation. Since joining Everglade, I have had the opportunity to learn and develop my knowledge in buildings and designs. I have found this is an area that interests me immensely and is an area that I excel at.

The job you do in 25 words…
I manage the Commercial Team, help with the Finance Department and I’m part of Everglade’s leadership team which is the next generation of the business.

Your greatest achievement…
I think my greatest achievement is probably how far I have come since I started at Everglade. Within 10 years of working here, I have worked hard to develop my skills so that I hold the position that I am in today. I am a part of an exciting plan to move the family business forward with the next generation.

I have always made sure that I know about Everglade as a whole and not just what my role involves. Everything I have achieved, I feel I have worked really hard for but I am always aware of what Everglade has given me. The company has helped me become the individual I am today.

I am in a good position now, with lots of knowledge and experience behind me.

The mistake you’d like to correct…
I don’t believe I have any mistake that I would like to correct. Mistakes are just an opportunity to learn so that you can do things differently next time.

The talent you would like to enhance…
I would like to enhance and attest my project management skills and given the opportunity I would love to attain a professional qualification in this area. I would also like to develop my surveying skills.

What you would like to do if you weren’t in this industry…I would have pursued my parent’s aspirations for me to become a qualified accountant.

A particular ambition…
Since I joined Everglade, my ambition has been to be a young high flying individual who is well known and respected in the construction industry.

The way you want to be remembered…
I’d like to be remembered as a hard-working distinguished businessman who is a pillar of the community. Also as a dedicated and passionate individual not only towards my work but also towards my family.