Former Scottish Football Association Chief Executive Jim Farry is carving out a new career with one of Scotland’s fastest growing commercial interiors contracting specialists.

He is using the negotiating skills he learned in the nine years he was in one of football’s toughest jobs, to help akp Scotland Ltd to reach its target of increasing its yearly turnover from £18million to £40 million within the next five years.

As full-time business development manager, Jim is responsible for marketing the company, sponsorship and creation of new business opportunities.

Ian McEwan, Managing Director and founder of the 12-year-old company which recently relocated to East Kilbride, said: “Now is a crucial time for the business as we are undergoing a major restructure and rebranding into three separate divisions – construction, interiors and healthcare. Although we do all those things already we wanted to provide a little bit of clarity to the market.

“Jim is playing a key role in raising awareness of what akp does in the marketplace and obviously his management skills will come in very handy when it comes to promoting our company.”

Jim is the first to admit that his previous role creates discussion when meeting new clients although it has been a bit of a learning curve.

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He said: “To be honest the only involvement I had with the building industry before I joined akp was putting up the odd garden shed and laying some slabs! But nowadays nobody expects to work in one job for fifty years and then pick up a gold watch – like many people I am using the transferable skills I have developed over the years such as administration, people development and brand promotion, to help drive the business forward."

The company is already a major player in the health care industry having recently completed a £6.5 million contract to create the new cardio-thoracic unit at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank. This included the creation of a new intensive care unit and cath lab.

Ian McEwan said: “It will be an incredibly proud moment for us all when the unit officially opens. Healthcare interiors are extremely challenging as the rooms have to function 24/7 and the level of specification and regulations are higher than any other area.

“We see this as being a big growth area for us particularly under an SNP leadership which is very pro-healthcare and are looking at breaking into the East of Scotland and branching out into private dental practices, pharmacies and GP clinics.”

Commercial interiors are also likely to be a key area for expansion for the company with increased demand for new headquarters from the legal, banking and accountancy sectors in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Past contracts include Atrium Court, 50 Waterloo Street in Glasgow and A&S Ireland’s offices in Glasgow which won a Silver Award from the Association of Interiors Specialists Contractors Awards.

Jim said: “In the old days employees used to be happy enough to get luncheon vouchers and their own desk, nowadays the environment they work in is very important and can be a deciding factor when choosing a job.

“People now anticipate break-out areas and staff coffee bars, good lighting and air conditioning.”

If Glasgow’s bid for The Commonwealth Games is successful this will offer huge opportunities for the construction side of the business according to Jim with many new hotels being planned for the city.

Jim said: “Now is an exciting time for the industry and I am delighted to be a member of the akp team. They are a great bunch of people and there is a lot of talent here.”

(CD/SP)