Asbestos Audit provides surveying, sampling and removal services to a range of clients, operating from several offices in the North East and across the country. As director, Ben Pickard is responsible for the day-to-day management and control of the company
What was your first job (and how much did it pay)? My first job was a territorial army soldier with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers while I was doing my A-Levels (which I soon lost interest in).
What is the best advice or support you’ve been given in business? I think the best advice I was ever given wasn’t business related it came from my outdoor education instructor at school, Keith Robson – “if you graft hard, you can do anything you want”. I have stuck by that mantra my whole life and it has served me well.
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What are the main changes you’ve seen in your business/sector, and what are the challenges you’re facing? In an ever-changing market having the right team around you is always the hardest part. The work is easy, it’s finding the right people to do it that matters.
How has the pandemic changed the way you work? Thankfully, as a company, the pandemic didn’t affect us too badly. We were already used to donning PPE and RPE every day and our works were protected as companies couldn’t just stop doing asbestos related projects. We did do a lot of hospital works around that time helping to prepare them for the higher patient numbers.
Who is your role model in business? I have a few role models in business. I’m interested in Elon Musk but I’m still not sure whether he’s good or bad (bit like Batman) but business-wise he has a plan and he sticks to it, which I admire. Richard Branson is another businessman who I admire and follow. I like the drive and determination to succeed alongside the fact he wasn’t good at school (much like myself) but didn’t let this affect his future plans.
What would your dream job be? I have often wondered what I would do as an ideal job. I would need something to keep me busy, most likely a small holding with some animals and a rural location out the way of the city life.
What advice would you give to someone starting out a career in your sector? I will stick by my mantra – work hard and anyone can achieve anything. We, as a company, reward hard work.
What makes the North East a good place to do business? The North East is a great place to work and live. Working nationally the location is great for heading north or south and the local skill base, developed over many years, gives us the basis to build a company from. Alongside this, I feel the North East has some of the nicest people in the Ƶ (and I have visited almost all of it).
How important is it for business to play a role in society? Being part of local society is important for all companies large and small. Asbestos Audit is proud to sponsor a number of charities and members of the team have recently run the Great North Run.
Outside of work, what are you really good at? I enjoy keeping fit at the gym and still regularly go walking and climbing in the hills whenever I can get away from work.
