A Day in the Life of Director, Martyn Pilcher, at Rap Interiors

For Martyn Pilcher, no two days are quite the same.

As Director of Rap Interiors, Martyn’s role takes him everywhere from client meetings and site surveys to project reviews, design discussions and the day-to-day running of the business. One minute he’s walking a client around their nearly completed office fit-out; the next, he’s solving a project challenge, discussing a new enquiry or making an important business decision.

And today is no exception.

It’s one of the hottest days of the year, and Martyn has three meetings lined up across Essex and London. In between travelling from site to site, there are phone calls and emails to keep on top of, live projects to check in on, new projects getting ready to start – and, somewhere amongst it all, the small matter of receiving his son’s A-Level results!

Martyn has been a Director of Rap Interiors for nine years and, five years ago, completed an MBO with his brother-in-law. His hands-on approach means he remains closely involved in every area of the business, from overseeing live projects and building client relationships to surveying new opportunities, developing the business and stepping in to solve problems when they arise.

With a background working on site himself, Martyn brings a wealth of practical knowledge and experience to his role. He has a clear vision for the future of Rap Interiors and takes a hands-on approach with all elements of the business.

So, what does a typical day actually look like?

Let’s follow Martyn through one particularly busy day.

7:00am – On the Road

The day starts early.

Martyn sets off at 7:00am and heads towards Ilford, Essex, ready for a client walkthrough of an office fit out project that is now approaching completion, not forgetting to pick up our designer and marketing manager on the way before heading to site.

Regular client meetings and site visits are an important part of Martyn’s approach. Being there in person means he can keep communication clear, understand how a project is progressing and, importantly, continue to build the strong relationships and trust that sit at the heart of Rap Interiors.

8:45am – Client Meeting

Martyn arrives on site to meet with our client at Boutique Care Homes, alongside our project manager and designer.

The project is now only a couple of weeks away from completion, so this walkthrough is all about checking progress, answering questions and making decisions on site where needed.

With the finishes starting to come together, the transformation is really beginning to take shape – and the client is extremely happy with how the project is progressing and the fact that it is running so smoothly and on programme.

For Martyn, being on site at this stage is also an opportunity to make sure everyone is aligned as the project approaches the finish line.

10:15am – On the Way to the Next Appointment

Martyn heads into central London for his next meeting, catching the train and tube to make his way into the City.

This time, he’s meeting with an existing client to discuss another potential office refurbishment project we are currently designing and planning – a complete transformation of a whole floor within their London building.

11:30am – M&E Meeting with Client and Consultant

This project is currently in the design stage and requires careful consideration of the mechanical and electrical requirements for the new workspace.

Martyn meets with the client and our M&E consultants on site to run through the details, understand the client’s requirements and assess the proposed design alongside the necessary M&E solutions.

It’s an important stage in the pre-construction process. Getting these details right early helps ensure the project can move forward smoothly, with everyone clear on what needs to happen and when.

By the end of the meeting, an agreed timeline is in place for the M&E design process.

1:00pm – Time for Lunch

After a busy morning of travelling, meetings and site discussions, it’s time for a quick lunch.
There’s still plenty left to do, so Martyn grabs some food and gets ready for his final meeting of the day.

2:00pm – Site Survey for a New Enquiry

Just 20 minutes away, Martyn arrives at another London office – this time for a brand-new enquiry.

The client is considering relocating and is looking for an office refurbishment company to help transform their potential new premises.

The site survey is the first opportunity to really understand the project.

Martyn takes measurements and photographs of the space, talks through the client’s brief and gets to know how the business operates, what the team needs from its workspace and how they want the new office to function.

There’s much more to a site survey than simply taking measurements. The information gathered at this stage helps the Rap Interiors team understand the opportunities and challenges within the space, develop the design and solutions, and ultimately build an accurate project proposal and cost.

Once the survey is complete, Martyn will take everything back to the team, where the design process can begin.

3:30pm – Back to the Office

After a very warm day travelling between Essex and London, Martyn finally heads back to the office.

But the working day isn’t quite over.

There are notes to write up, emails to respond to, project updates to catch up on and plenty of other conversations taking place across the business.

This is perhaps the best illustration of what being a Director at Rap Interiors is really like. There isn’t one single part of the business that Martyn focuses on. His day can move from client relationships to project delivery, design and technical discussions to new business – often within the space of a few hours.

And that variety is exactly what makes the role so interesting.

Let’s Hear from Martyn

“No two days are the same, which is what I enjoy most about my role. I’m involved in everything from meeting clients and visiting sites to managing projects and making decisions for the wider business. It can be busy and challenging, but I enjoy being hands-on, solving problems and seeing a project come together from start to finish.”

Thinking About Your Next Office?

From initial site surveys and workplace design through to construction and project completion, the Rap Interiors team works with businesses to create workplaces that are practical, inspiring and built around the way they work.
If you’re considering an office refurbishment, relocation or fit out, get in touch with the Rap Interiors team on the enquiry form below, email refurb@rapinteriors.co.uk or call 0333 600 1234 to discuss your project and find out how we can help.