24 HOURS WITH Ash Poole Managing Director of The Fencing Bloke

A brief overview of your role and company looking to expand again and take on more commercial contracts, more staff and generally grow as a business.

I am the Managing Director of The Fencing Bloke. I set the business up in 2018 and we specialise in the installation of all styles of fencing, from commercial and residential properties to high-level security projects. This could range from two panels in someone’s back garden to high-grade security fencing in prisons.

Can you give us a short overview of an average day at work?

At the moment, I get up at 4am and after getting ready and having a quick cup of coffee, I make sure I have everything prepared for the day, whether that is equipment or qualifications that are needed to be taken to site. I then check over any vehicles that are being used and then head out to be on-site at 7am.

This is when the planning of the day starts and I brief the lads that are working that day and make sure that they understand their tasks. My role is then to manage the project and assist with the machinery to move equipment, panels etc around the site.

An example of a project that we are working on is installing a three-meter-tall security fence.

If I get a chance during the day I will do some office work before getting home between 10pm-11pm. It is then a quick shower and a bite to eat before straight to bed.

How has the company grown in recent years?

We’ve gone from primarily installing residential fencing, whether that is large or small projects, to moving into more commercial work with companies like Network Rail and Kier and we are now subcontractors to other large companies. We’ve worked hard to gain accreditations and qualifications over the last few years and we are now seeing the rewards of the larger projects.

Have you faced any particular challenges recently?

Yes, every day!

But rather than the technical hiccups we encounter on the job, one challenge I face is the learning as we’re going with the business. I am not an educated person, just a very hard-working person.

I didn’t have any high-level business knowledge/formal qualifications or management experience before starting the company. I’ve also had to work hard to find out what is needed to get those larger contracts and I haven’t had a mentor or contact who has told me “You need this, this and this” etc.

I also have learning difficulties and struggle when it comes to reading and writing. Concentrating on the side of the business that relies on those elements has also been a challenge but splitting tasks into smaller, more manageable segments has made things easier.

Although my learning difficulties are a major challenge for me, it never stops me from doing what I need to do. I just figure out a way to do it!

What are your plans for the future?

We’re looking to expand again and take on more commercial contracts, more staff and generally grow as a business.

One of my main goals as a company is to become net zero as soon as possible. I am massively passionate about this and am trying to learn how we can be as eco-friendly as possible.

If there was an extra hour in the day, how would you spend it?

I would definitely spend it with my family and my two young girls.

My daughter Charlotte really enjoys dancing so we regularly put music on and dance around like lunatics! My youngest, Milly, can’t walk yet so just wiggles along in her chair.

One of my main goals as a company is to become net zero as soon as possible. I am massively passionate about this and am trying to learn how we can be as ecofriendly as possible.