Director, Registered Builder & Founder of Allcraft Projects
For this edition of our Meet the Team series, we’re introducing the person who started it all — Paul Hobbs.
Paul started Allcraft Projects on 13 July 1992, beginning with a small joinery and cabinet-making workshop. What started as a small business has steadily grown over the past 34 years into the commercial building and maintenance company it is today.
Paul’s own career began in the trades, working as a cabinet maker, carpenter, joiner and shopfitter. That practical trade background has remained an important part of his approach to the business. He later attained his builder’s registration, allowing Allcraft to expand its capabilities and take on a broader range of building, maintenance, fit-out and project work.
More Than 30 Years of Change
Having spent more than 35 years in the industry, Paul has seen a lot of change. The building industry of 1992 looks very different to the industry we work in today, with huge developments in technology, communication, project management, materials and compliance.
Throughout that time, Paul has made sure Allcraft has continued to adapt. From the way projects are managed and documented to the technology used by the team every day, staying current and finding better ways of working has always been an important part of moving the business forward.
Today, Paul’s role covers a little bit of everything. He provides executive oversight of projects, manages client relationships and strategic planning, and is involved in commercial management, resource allocation, programme review, risk management and quality assurance.
And while Paul’s role has evolved considerably since those early days in the workshop, his trade experience is still invaluable. Having worked with the tools and on the job himself, he understands the practical challenges that come with delivering building and maintenance projects — and the importance of finding solutions that work.
It’s Always Been About the Team
Although Paul started Allcraft Projects, he is quick to recognise that the business’s journey over the past 34 years has been a team effort.
Employees, contractors, suppliers and clients have all played a part in helping Allcraft grow from that small joinery shop into the business it is today.
From cabinet maker and shopfitter to Registered Builder and Managing Director, Paul’s career has grown alongside Allcraft Projects.
34 years on, the business has changed, the industry has changed and technology has changed — but the focus on good people, good work and finding the right solutions remains the same.
And there’s still plenty more to come.