This week’s exclusive interview with a senior figure in the housebuilding community is with Ian Sadler, recently appointed to managing director of Northamptonshire-based Mulberry Homes, who tells us about his successful career, what he loves about the company, and plans for the future.
Tell us a bit about your background prior to your employment with Mulberry.
After leaving school I studied Civil Engineering at college before going into consultancy. I joined Bryant Homes in 1994 as technical manager, from there my career progressed to divisional technical manager. When Bryant was taken over by Taylor Woodrow in 2001, I was promoted to technical director for the West Midlands division. I stayed there until 2007, which is when I joined Barratt/David Wilson and worked my way from technical director to MD of the North Thames division. A grand total of 25 years in the industry!
What are your career highlights so far? Are there any past projects that have been particularly inspiring?
A personal highlight would have to be my time as managing director at Barratt/David Wilson when I led the division through a significant growth period increasing both volumes and profits and delivering a five-star customer recommendation from the HBF. In addition, the implementation and delivery of the first phase of a new residential village called Kingsbrook in Aylesbury that consists of 2,500 homes, as well as community and educational facilities, a new road infrastructure and significant areas of open space and ecological improvements.
What are your plans for Mulberry Homes over the next couple of years?
I am hoping to help contribute to growing the business and the brand in order that Mulberry is recognised as the region’s premium housebuilder. Our new target volume is to create 400+ homes per year up from 200.
What attracted you to Mulberry Homes as a business?
The spirit of the team at Mulberry is very infectious, and I greatly admired the impressive way the company has grown. It has established a very solid foundation, to its well-earned position as a leading medium-sized developer and has ambitious expansions plans. Mulberry has a fantastic quality product, a great approach to design and an enviable reputation in the region. These are exciting times for Mulberry, as we expand our business and portfolio of developments in prime locations.
How is Mulberry Homes special or unique compared to other housebuilders?
The attention to detail starts at the very beginning, from exploring the local area, planning and working alongside the architects to ensure that the homes are designed with layouts that work for modern living. From well-designed starter homes, spacious family homes and luxury countryside dwellings located throughout the Midlands and the South, Mulberry Homes are always designed, built and finished to a meticulous standard. It is this level of care and attention that makes a Mulberry home, one to be proud of.
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