Ciaron McClennon
Tell us about your company…
We are a family run business working across the South Hams on an array of projects, from £20,000 garage conversions to waterfront property renovations costing over £1,000,000!
How big is your team?
We have 14 in total – all male except our honorary female Alison, the operations manager, who keeps everyone in line! We work on extensions, loft conversions, total renovations, and new builds with a wide spectrum of trades and skills.
Do the homeowners hand the whole project over to you?
A lot of the time they do, especially if they’re second homeowners or busy clientele. They haven’t always the time to deal with all the finer details, so we can take on every aspect and work with the architects, the structural engineers as well as planning and building control. Some of our clients are based elsewhere in the UK or abroad and I often find myself on FaceTime showing them details on site or finishes for them to select.
What’s it like working in and around Dartmouth?
As you can imagine it can be quite problematic at times with its narrow streets and difficult access to a lot of properties, especially down by the water. We once had to transport 400 tonnes of soil from a garden down 150 steps with a conveyor belt and a lot of men!
Tells us about an unusual project…
We recently worked on a home in Slapton which had turbines in the garden and the owner wanted to use the energy generated to supply his underfloor heating.
Do you roll your sleeves up on site?!
I do get my hands dirty at times and I like to lead by example but it’s not always possible. Now my role is mainly spent dealing with the clients and the suppliers. I go on site everyday – I’m sure the team sometimes dread my visits! I have high standards, at the end of the day it’s my name on the sign, and the homeowner is paying a lot of money, so I want to get it right.
How did you get into the building and construction business?
My mum worked all her life in business with a keen interest in property development so I was constantly aware of the building industry. We moved down from London when I was 12 and she continued to successfully set up various businesses including pubs, nursing homes (Beacon Court in Dartmouth was one) and property from scratch such as a 20-acre villa complex in Portugal where she has now retired to. Mum taught me that you’re not given anything in life and must be driven and work for it. She’s given me all my energy and drive.
When I left school I did an apprenticeship with a construction firm in Torbay. After a few years I went self-employed and then set up my own business.
Do you have a favourite style?
I love modern contemporary, but I also really like old characterful buildings, so my ideal project is when someone wants to keep the building as it is but totally update the interior.
What’s your own house like?
It’s in Kingsbridge and my partner and I only moved in 6 months ago. The previous owner had girls, so all the rooms were pink - we had to change that straight away for our four boys! We’re currently in the process of putting our own identity on the property.
What do you do in your spare time?
I try to fit in some CrossFit and spinning and I play football with a local group once a week – we are a bunch of oldies but it’s great fun. Having my own two sons keeps me occupied, the younger plays football for Southampton under 10’s and has played against Everton, Newcastle, Milan and Juventus youth teams. My eldest has been busy with successfully completing his GCSEs and is now starting his A Levels after helping ‘dad’ out a bit during the summer holidays.
What would you do if you had your time again?
I would love to live in the mountains.
What’s left on your bucket list?
To ski in unusual places like Japan and New Zealand.
Three things you would take to a desert island?
My family, my trainers and a Costa Coffee.
To contact Ciaran ring 01803 834488 or visit www.ciaranmcclennon.co.uk
First published in By The Dart magazine October 2018