George Hood, the managing director for Balfour Beatty in the north of Scotland, has confirmed that he will be retiring and ending his illustrious 40-year career in the construction industry which spawned after making his first steps as a quantity surveyor at the age of just 19.
This news makes the recent completion of the £22.3 million Third Don Crossing likely to be the final major project that Hood will have overseen for the company, which is one of the many hugely successful projects including the amusing creation of a new hospitality suite at Ibrox Stadium, despite Hoodâs passion for Celtic FC.
George Hood began his career at Alexander Hall in 1975, and has worked his way up in the industry over the course of his career. He has played an integral role within the company through things such as acquiring the framework contract for work at RAF Lossiemouth for several years, enabling Balfour Beatty to construct hangars for the Eurofighter Typhoons. However, the Scot has admitted how different working in the industry was when he started out to how it is currently in the UK.
Directors were always âmisterâ, they were never called by their first name. That formality has long disappeared recalled the Aberdeen based managing director. Also, the boardroom lunches. There was wine, whisky, cigars â that was how business was done. It is hard to attract people into the trades in our industry now.
According to Hood, it would be impossible in the way that the modern industry has developed to complete a large scale infrastructure project without bringing in workers from overseas, based on the fact that the construction industry is suffering from a shortage of people willing to work who have the required skills which is why foreign workers are relied upon.
Iâm sure Hood will be missed by Balfour Beatty, and there will certainly be some big boots to fill once he leaves his position.
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