Career view: Stacey Temprell, marketing director at British Gypsum

This week’s exclusive interview with a senior figure in the new homes industry is with Stacey Temprell, who works for a major player in the housebuilding supply chain, British Gypsum, as marketing director.

Please tell us a little about yourself and the education and career path that led to your current role.

I started work straight from school, joining an adhesive manufacturing company. Whilst there I completed a business degree and an MBA. I joined British Gypsum as Gyproc brand manager in 2002 and progressed to become residential market manager. It was in 2006 that I became marketing director for Artex, another company in the Saint-Gobain Group, covering the DIY market. Then in 2009 I moved to insulation specialists Isover for a couple of years before going on maternity leave to have twins. I returned to work in 2012 as marketing director for Saint-Gobain’s Habitat, UK and then it was in April this year (2018) that I was appointed marketing director at British Gypsum.

What is it about the marketing career that you find particularly satisfying and was such a senior role always an ambition?

It is the wider strategic thinking that I enjoy the most – taking a long-term forward-looking approach, with the goal of really trying to identify what is going to achieve sustainable business benefit. So, for me, it wasn’t so much the ambition of a senior role, but having the opportunity to drive strategy, contributing to where a business needs to go.

What’s your marketing team like? Does it have a variety of role levels, duties and personalities?

It is a big team of about 70 because as well as covering strategic marketing, we also cover technical support and British Gypsum’s network of Technical Academies. The team is diverse, from a wide range of backgrounds, each with different areas of expertise and also different lengths of experience – from new graduates right through to people who have been here for 30 years or more.

How does your job fit in with the Group?

My remit, first and foremost, is the British Gypsum business, but we do have the added benefit of a strong network of over 30 businesses in the UK as part of the Saint-Gobain Group. I have been with the Group for some time now, so I have a wide network of contacts which is really useful for getting different perspectives on the challenges and opportunities the business faces.

Is there something unique about marketing in the construction industry compared to others?

I really love the technical performance-based nature that this sector demands. You must know your products and you must have clear data-driven performance substantiations to be able to market the solutions. Whether it is fire, structural or acoustic performance – you either meet (or exceed) the standards, or you don’t. At British Gypsum, we have a lot of people focused on this area, we work together to ensure we are prepared for not just what is happening today, but also for what is coming tomorrow.

Have there been particularly inspiring projects and mentors in your career?

The first project I worked on when I joined British Gypsum was in relation to changing Building Regulations. I had come from the adhesives business, so it was a steep learning curve, particularly when it came to understanding technical performance criteria. At the time, my colleague John Nelson, who since retired just last year, was a huge support. He taught me all about performance marketing and I always referred to him as my Yoda!

I have also been lucky enough to have worked on some ground-breaking projects such as Saint-Gobain’s first multi-comfort building – Bartholomew Barn at the King’s School, Worcester. The idea was to design and specify a building with comfort in mind, minimising the impact buildings have on people. Our focus was on improving well-being and the positive feedback we got – and still get – about the project, from both students and teachers, is inspiring.

Is diversity in marketing an issue and is it attracting enough talented people to it as a career?

I think that diversity is still an issue in many industries and that most can still do better. However, there has been a real shift recently in the efforts to address this. From a marketing perspective, diversity is so important. At the end of the day, marketing is influencing people’s buying decisions and the people making those decisions are as diverse as the people marketing to them. Having that mix in a team means you can identify with the different people you are marketing to, which is key to influencing behaviour.

Are there elements of working for British Gypsum that you find particularly appealing?

British Gypsum, and the Saint-Gobain Group as a whole, are particularly good at forwarding the diversity agenda. We have flexible working hours, the ability to work from home and all the IT and digital capabilities to allow for remote working. It is not a place where you have to be at your desk from 7.00am to 7.00pm, which is good.

What’s your advice to those considering a career in marketing, and in the construction industry?

You have to be prepared to really get to grips with understanding the technical aspects of your portfolio. But for me, being in a position where you are able to support people to achieve what they want in the design and use of buildings is the most rewarding part.