2021 Business Highlights
The end of the year is often a time for reflection as well as celebration. We invited Angus, our Commercial Director, to reflect on some of Open’s 2021 business highlights. So, from the challenges of working in a global pandemic to the successful completion of various projects, here is what he had to say
2021 business highlights in a Q&A with Angus de Watteville, our Commercial Director
Which of Open’s achievements in 2021 are you most proud?
The exceptional challenges of the pandemic, continuing to deliver amazing quality projects for our clients while adapting to keep people safe. These are definitely the facts that worth mentioning about in our 2021 business highlights.
How would you describe our current way of working?
We’re keeping on working while ensuring more space, more fresh air, and more flexibility to work from home when it makes sense.
What is the key to our success and what makes us good at what we do?
Our business ethos drives everything we do; a straightforward and honest approach combined with an obsession for delivering quality. We go the extra mile, aiming to resolve problems without making a fuss, embracing change along the way to ensure our clients always get the amazing outcomes they really want.
Can you highlight how we managed to maintain our business culture during the pandemic?
By endlessly communicating with each other, with our clients and with our subcontractors through a mix of virtual meetings, one to one contact and face to face meetings in large airy spaces, the business culture has been maintained and strengthened while keeping everyone safe.
What are you looking forward to for Open and the team in 2022?
With a burgeoning order book from both new and long term clients, and many exciting projects on the horizon, and a growing team to deliver them, the future looks bright for the business into 2022 and beyond. And I cannot wait to highlight these in the next year report.
What are your wishes for our partners and clients for the New Year?
As we all come to terms with shaping a new normal for how we live and work, we look forward to adapting alongside our partners and clients to help them to create the spaces they need to meet whatever challenges and changes come their way.
Which of our projects completed this year was your favourite and why?
I would say, Laszlo. We worked tremendously hard to reimagine this 1920s style former warehouse into a smart and modern workplace. More than 40 subcontractors worked on-site and managing these in a safe working environment was crucial for us.
The project also involved some major structural alterations internally and externally and a complete courtyard make-over. Better yet, 94% of the waste was recycled during the strip-out of the project. We worked tremendously hard to reimagine this 1920s style former warehouse into a smart and modern workplace – helping to ‘shape the future’ in Archway and we were proud to be part of an amazing creative team.
Are you going to make any New Year’s resolutions or goals for 2022?
No, am not!
Angus joined us as Commercial Director in January 2020, and since then he successfully coordinated various projects for the business, including Panagram, Laszlo, Hamilton House and now The Bindery, in Hatton Garden. You can find Angus on our People page and connect with him on LinkedIn.
And that’s a wrap! We cannot wait to talk here again about our business 2022 highlights, until then why not have a look to our ‘Projects’ page to see what we are about to on this year.
