AUTUMN 2017
Why did you move to Bath from Wales ? I got invited to a Bath Rugby away day as part of the 1989 pre-season training , following which I got asked if I wanted to play for the club . I also then attended the University of Bath to study structural and civil engineering .
Q & A
The
IESTYN LEWIS
89-95 Redcliff Street Bristol , BS1 6LU www . iesis . net www . rengendevelopments . com
There seems to be a lot of different aspects to the business , why have you done this ? The 2008 global financial crisis was probably not the best time to start a business , however we knew if we kept the business broad and didn ’ t turn down any opportunities we could create a certain robustness so if one particular sector experienced a downturn , we had contingency and could continue to push forward . I think the lesson from 2008 is you need to be fast on your feet , always , and give yourself as much opportunity to grow .
How did you transition from Rugby to Property ? The game went professional in ‘ 95 and I could see I wasn ’ t good enough to make Rugby my full time career . So I moved to London to work as a structural engineer . Having come from a heavy industrial mining area in South Wales I was surrounded by engineering so it was a natural career progression .
Why did you start Iesis Group ? The 2008 recession hit and I needed to think laterally as work opportunities were very limited .
What does being an entrepreneur mean to you ? Dedicating yourself to creating something out of nothing , which takes risk , drive , commitment , resourcefulness and perseverance . I see opportunities everywhere , and for me it ’ s about embracing all of the challenges and failures that come with those opportunities . I remember in 2010 we ended up taking on work in Sierra Leone , Liberia , and Mauritania , all places I had never been before , to do some heavy civil engineering , also something new to me , because we needed to keep going . It ’ s about never giving up .
What drives you ? Has there been someone or something that has inspired your career ? I have been very fortunate to spend time with some very successful people in both the sporting and business environments . I grew up in a small mining town in South Wales and I think there was this grit that was ingrained in me from a very young age that helped me remain focused , regardless of obstacles . Working with good people , wanting to grow the business , and being part of a successful team is ultimately what I am trying to create within the business .
What is the most challenging aspect of your job ? Managing the various stakeholders within the business both internally and externally . It is an allconsuming work environment that needs constant attention . You are never able to just switch off - but that is part of the exciting and life-changing journey of being an entrepreneur .
What is the highlight of your job as CEO ? At the end of every year I always take time to look back and see the changes the business and staff have gone through . There is always improvement and structured growth within the business . The core management team has been together from the beginning , and seeing them grow alongside the business makes me feel proud . I take pleasure from seeing new people join the business and step into the senior management team . We have a great team .
Being able to say you once played alongside the likes of Gareth Chilcott , Mike Catt and Jeremy Guscott is not the usual CV for a Chief Executive . But for former Bath Rugby player Iestyn Lewis it ’ s just one chapter in a career that has led to him starting and running his own company , Iesis Group , which is now one of the region ’ s most successful property firms .
The company is responsible for delivering such sites in Bath as Widcombe Social Club , The Labour Exchange , Canal Bridge , Radway Service Station , Piccadilly Place , Bath Sea Cadets , The Former Baskervilles Gym ( The Chapel ), and 2 Lymore Gardens .
This Christmas Iesis Group celebrates its 10th anniversary . We have asked Iestyn a few questions on his transition from Bath Rugby player to entrepreneur and what it takes to create a diverse and prosperous company with international reach .
What project are you most proud of and why ? The Exchange on James Street West in Bath is probably the most rewarding and challenging jobs we have completed in the city . The building has major historical relevance to the city and we were able to bring it back into beneficial use . It took a huge amount of effort and coordination with external parties , and I think the results are excellent .
Over the past ten years what has been one of the best things you ’ ve done to expand the company ? We have built great relationships with investors of the business , which has allowed us to diversify what the business offers and to grow faster than ‘ I ever expected . We have also worked hard to develop great relationships with our clients and partners as we wouldn ’ t be here without their support .
Do you have a real estate that “ got away ”? There is always one that got away . What I have learned over 25 years in the industry is you can ’ t dwell on anything for too long , you have to continue to face forward and move on very quickly , because things can always get away from you .
What area do you think is the next hub for property ? Property runs in cycles . What might commercially work one day will be out the next . It is important to follow the cycle and to keep ahead of demand . We have obviously focused a lot on student developments and that sector has become extremely well serviced . But we are now moving into other areas that we consider less saturated and to have potential .
What do you do in your spare time ? If you have any ! I spend much of my spare time running around after my two children with their busy social lives . I am also a big Bath Rugby fan ( of course !) so I can be found at the Rec most home games .
What do you see as the future for business ? We have seen great expansion over the last ten years in a number of different areas and the focus is continuing to offer a multi-faceted delivery and expand the business on a national basis . We hope to open another office in 2018 .
2007
10 years in business
ANNIVERSARY
2017