His business is aptly named. “With the unpredictable Scottish weather, we often get four seasons in one day so that was my thinking behind the name,” says Mr Boyce, who operates across the UK out of premises in Glasgow and soon to be Manchester in July this year. “We work in all weather, so that’s where the inspiration came from.”
Indeed, the recent Storm Éowyn led to a flurry of emergency business for Four Seasons Roofing Contractors, with damage ranging from loose slates to more serious structural impacts.
However, Mr Boyce points out that “no job is too small, and no job is too big”, adding: “We treat every customer with the same respect – we give the same level of customer service to the homeowner who just needs a single slate replaced as we do to a major housebuilder.
“We get a lot of big contracts from clients – we’ve worked on newbuild hotels, new housing developments, major high street banks, and a really interesting one was for Network Rail, when we re-roofed train station buildings across various parts of England.
“Sometimes our squads have to work during the night, often in bad weather, so it’s a hard job and roofers have to be ahead of the game, especially on a busy building site where the roofs have to go on first before other jobs can be done inside. So, the pressure can be quite intense but I thrive on it – I like the challenge and motivating everyone within the company to get things done fast.
“However, we try to balance it so we don’t neglect domestic customers. For many domestic customers, roofing work can be a big and unexpected expense so we can work around their budget too.”
Now 41, Mr Boyce left school in 1999 to start a roof slating and tiling apprenticeship which instilled in him a strong work ethic. He was also inspired by his father, who had his own roofing company, to branch out on his own.
“I always wanted to have my own business,” he explains. “I was 21 when I started and very quickly and won a £350,000 contract. It was amazing to have achieved that at such a young age and I felt excited taking that huge leap.
“However, the 2008 recession hit, and the client’s business had to shut down, which meant I had to start again – it took me down with them. We were owed a fortune. It was a massive setback, but I think that, in life generally, when you experience these knockbacks it’s a good learning curve and you come back stronger, – you just need to stay focused and don’t ever give up and keep grinding away. The day you give up the dream dies – it’s that simple.
“I won’t say I wasn’t devasted because I was – it was difficult – but I was still determined to work for myself. I worked for a few other companies, both big and small, before taking the next step and setting up on my own again. I learned a lot from other people and put my ego aside. My confidence grew which has helped me scale up Four Seasons Roofing Contractors to where we are today. We are also now looking into acquiring other companies.”
While much of Mr Boyce’s time is spent tendering for contracts and managing his roofing squads, he also keeps abreast of evolving technology within the roofing industry and new product development. “Like all sectors in the building industry, roofing has moved on over the years and now offers so much more choice when it comes to materials,” he explains.
“Obviously, it depends on the type of property and the customer’s budget, but we work with you to find the right solution for you. Many want a more energy-efficient and sustainable roof while materials now are more durable which means your roof lasts longer. Whatever the customer goes for, we use only the highest quality and most modern products.”
Four Seasons Roofing Contractors covers the domestic, commercial, industrial, and retail sectors throughout the UK as well as conducting insurance work, and subcontracting work for large contractors and other firms requiring a roofing specialist. It also operates a 24-hour callout service, 365 days a year.
Certified as one of the UK’s best businesses by the WCBRB (Worldwide Certified Business Review Board) and a former winner of the Roofing Specialist of the Year category in both the SME News UK Enterprise Awards and the Prestige Awards Scotland, the company has experienced considerable growth over the last few years.
“We tend to get a lot of business via word of mouth and repeat business too,” Mr Boyce continues. “There was a customer who used us 15 years ago who had moved house and came back to us requiring our services again. At the other end of the scale, recently we won a £2.8 million contract with a major housebuilder to work on 260 homes – that starts next year.
“I’m proud of where we are just now but there is much more growth to come, if I am to achieve my goal of being the biggest and best roofing company in the country. I can see the finish line, but I am still running the race. You have to work hard, you have to earn trust and build respect with your customers. The most important thing in business is customers and keeping them and providing them with excellent service – it’s not money, that will come naturally.
“It’s about going the extra mile, treating your workers well and giving your all for your customers. For me, there is no better feeling that coming home at night knowing that you have put in a hard day’s work, you enjoy your dinner more – and even better is the many positive reviews we get from our customers who can see that we have done the best possible job for them.”
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