Interview: David Duquemin on a lifetime in construction

How did you get involved in the business?

I grew up in a builder’s household and my father was running the business at the time, running the business from home, actually. So we had the workshops and offices in our house. School never really made much sense to me at the time. I always knew that I was going to get a job working for my dad and I left school at 15 with no qualifications.

So I did my apprenticeship and immediately, building made total sense to me. Something in the genes probably. I did my apprenticeship then started climbing the ladder, doing various qualifications, HNC and what have you.

Although I left school with no qualifications, I ended up with a first-class honours degree. Then I became a chartered surveyor and fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building. I’ve been a past president of the Guernsey Building Trades Employers Association and chair of various organisations. So from humble beginnings, it’s been quite a career.

So you’ve gone from no qualifications to a first-class degree. Was it just the building element that just fired your imagination? Did you surprise yourself in what you achieved?

I’d never really written serious academic essays before but it all came pretty naturally to me, because it was a subject that I knew very well. So it was an enjoyable experience. Something I’d recommend actually. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.

What was the business like when you first started out?

It was Dad running the firm. My brother-in-law was working there and my brother, who’s 14 years older than me, had just returned from the army. He sort of took over in the ‘80s and we all worked together and made a good team.

When I started, I think the firm was only about 20-25 guys. The whole thing was run from our family home and we’ve grown from there really. At one stage, I think we had over 100 staff. I’ve been the director of the firm since the 1980s and eventually became MD about 20 years ago. And we’ve really gone from strength to strength.

What was the first project that really jumps out when you think about your early career?

I’ve obviously been involved in hundreds of new-build projects over the years, but my favourite projects usually involve historic buildings and especially large heritage projects. There are two that really spring to mind for me – St James, when we converted the old church into the concert hall it is today. I was just 24 years old, and I was site manager on that project. So that one means a lot to me. I’m very proud of that job.

The other was the Royal Court refurbishment of the historic building, the old Royal Court, in 2006. I was project director on that one. We did the total refurbishment in a very tight 10-month programme. And I mean, that’s a very important building. All the States meetings, the States of Deliberation had to move while we were doing the work. So it was on a very tight schedule and again, a very rewarding project.

It must be nice to drive past St James and the Royal Court almost every day and think you’ve had a hand in it?

One of the great things about the building industry is the job satisfaction. There’s something you’ve been involved in around every corner almost.

What were the big challenges on the St James project?

Well, there’s challenges on every project, but that was interesting because it had been neglected for so long and water was pouring into the structure, into the historic fabric. And there’s these huge roof trusses that span across that enormous ceiling. We had to jack them up to get them level again and so we had to come up with an ingenious system to do it. But they were also supporting the huge ceiling roses underneath. We had to be extremely careful not to damage those ceiling trusses.

The other thing I remember from that time, and we’re talking a way back – one of the biggest challenges was to plaster the ceiling. I remember it took the whole firm working on it for one day and it’s 350 sq.m. I can still remember everybody working on that.

Including you?

Yes, everybody. Every man and his dog was involved - so that was particularly interesting. And some of the old techniques were brought back, plaster mouldings and that sort of thing. The journey was very satisfying, but the destination is always a relief as well.

What about the Royal Court, what was that project like?

We did a complete refurbishment of the whole thing. RG Falla was also working on the new Royal Court next door, so we had two different builders working more or less on the same building, but it worked out extremely well. We both realised it was for the good of Guernsey plc that we had to sort this out. Those projects would be the ones you get particular satisfaction from, especially bringing an old building back to life and giving it a new purpose is very rewarding.

Are there any buildings in Guernsey that you’d like to get your hands on?

The one that I would be really interested in, but I think I’m probably too late for it now in my career, would be the Victor Hugo Centre. I think that would be a phenomenal job to be involved in. The Tourist Information Centre is a beautiful building. I just hope the work goes to a Guernsey firm.

What about the ways the industry has changed over the years?

The thing that’s really revolutionised, not only our industry, but every industry, is IT. Everything has changed. Communications, just the way information is passed to all the various parties, it’s incomprehensible to what it used to be like. You’d have to write a letter or send a fax, now it’s there instantaneously. It’s incredible.

In some ways it makes it so much easier. You can copy in every party who’s needed, but in the old days when you had to compose a letter or wait to receive a letter, it would take a few days, so it would give you a bit more time. There’s more time pressure now.

And the other massive changes from when I first started is legislation in terms of health and safety and employment legislation. They were non-existent when I started my career. My father wouldn’t recognise the industry now from when he left it.

Is that quite special to you, the family history of the business?

Oh yes, it’s special. We have had an incredible centenary year this year. It’s been very special to think of all the family members and all the hundreds and hundreds of islanders and people that have helped us on our journey, it’s been incredible.

And of course there’s another building company celebrating 100 years this year. What was in the water in 1924?

To be honest, I honestly don’t know. Because there’s us and Rihoys. And then the next centenary, I think, would be about 30 years later. It’s a pretty rare thing. I don’t know who started first. I’ve got definite proof that we started in 1924, but I haven’t got an exact date.

What about the wider industry? Construction is quite a hot topic. Are we heading in the right direction?

It’s always challenging because of the nature of the economy. You’ve got to cope with the peaks and troughs of the economy and the effect that has on your workforce. When there’s a lot of work around, everybody needs labour. When suddenly the States stops spending or there’s a recession, it’s ‘Wow, what do we do with all this labour?’ We can’t get the work. So that’s the biggest challenge really.

I’m sure Guernsey will come through in the end. There’s modern methods of construction with timber frame and modular building, which can put buildings up a lot quicker. Though it’s very frustrating when you’re dealing with a client like the States. Once you’ve got a spade in the ground, they’re a fantastic client, they’re a blue chip client, but it’s getting to that point. That’s sometimes difficult.

What about the lifetime achievement award? To receive that from the local body in a room with a lot of people you know and have worked with over the years, what was that like?

It was a shock because I didn’t really even know I’d been nominated. So it was a great surprise.

I don’t want to prematurely retire you, but what’s next for you and the business?

We’re always extremely busy. We’re about to appoint a new managing director, so I will be taking a little more of a back seat now. I’m 65, I’ve done my 50 years, and it’s our centenary year. It’s all a bit of a coincidence, but it is very, very special for us. It’s been a fantastic year.