Tell us about your background and where you’re from?
I grew up in South London, around the Brixton and Streatham areas, if you’re familiar with London. I later moved to Nottingham, in the middle of England, to pursue a degree in politics. That’s where I met my wife, and in 2020, we decided to move to Canada, just before COVID became a major issue. We arrived in January, and by March, lockdowns had begun, so it was definitely a strange time to relocate.
The main reason for the move was that I had lived in London my whole life, and I was ready for a change. London is such an intense city, and I wanted to experience living somewhere new. My wife has family in Maple Ridge, which is not too far from where we are now in Port Moody. We love it here because it offers the perfect balance of an outdoorsy lifestyle while still being close to the city.
When we first arrived, I worked a few shifts for A Few Good Lads. It’s funny because I happened to know someone working there, and they helped me get started. After that, I transitioned into what I used to do back in the UK, which was sales. But I quickly realized that sales wasn’t for me—it felt soul-crushing and too superficial. I was eager for a career change, so I reached out to Matt, and he gave me an opportunity to move into recruitment, HR, and payroll, which is what I’m doing now. It’s been a completely different experience, but I’ve really enjoyed it so far. Plus, Matt’s a great boss, which definitely makes a difference.
On a personal note, my wife and I are expecting our first child in March, so that’s something we’re really excited about. So yeah, that’s a snapshot of what’s been happening with me over the last few years!
So, your first role at AFGL was in sales?
No, I didn’t go directly into sales. I had a sales job lined up, but it wasn’t set to start for about a month. In the meantime, to help me out, they offered me a temporary job doing labor work—pretty much the same kind of work we bring new recruits on to do today. So I got to experience that firsthand.
Interestingly, our current process for new office staff is that they have to spend at least one day on-site, and I was able to bypass that since I’d already done my time back in 2020. During that period, I was doing typical labor tasks—cleaning up work sites and handling the same duties that I now ask our recruits to do or set expectations for when they join the company. It gave me valuable insight into the work we do.
Can you tell me a little bit more about your current role, people and culture manager?
In my role as People and Culture Manager, I primarily oversee the temporary recruitment side of the business, which makes up the bulk of what we do. This includes managing the onboarding process for general labourers, skilled labourers, junior carpenters, carpenters, and TCPs—pretty much all the temporary positions we fill. I also handle some permanent recruitment, which is something I hadn’t done before, but it’s been a really interesting experience. I have a lot of friends in recruitment back in the UK, so they got a kick out of me winding up in this line of work too.
In addition to recruitment, I’m involved in upskilling within the temporary workforce. I help guide lads with ambition who want to climb the ladder, working with them and our operations team to place them in roles or with clients that will expose them to the skills they want to learn. Carpentry is a big area for us, so if we have lads who are eager to develop carpentry skills, we place them in environments where they can gain that experience. It’s rewarding to help people progress toward their career goals.
On the more administrative side, I also handle payroll—making sure the data is accurate and that everyone gets paid on time and correctly. While it’s not the most exciting part of the job, it’s definitely essential. Given that we’re a small team, I wear many hats. I often help out with operations, whether that’s answering phones when needed, stepping in if Adam is away, or even making sales calls, which ties back to my previous experience in sales.
Overall, my role is quite diverse, but I really enjoy the variety of it!
Do you find it rewarding working on the skills development side of recruitment?
Absolutely, it’s incredibly rewarding. A lot of the lads who come here are looking to establish themselves and set up for long-term success. I really admire them for that, especially since it can be quite daunting to move to a new country and start from scratch. They’re determined to put down roots, and they work hard to reach the next level in their careers. It’s always fulfilling to see them achieve that. Our goal is to empower those individuals and help them succeed, so it’s definitely a rewarding part of the job.
How has your perception of the trades industry changed since working for a few good lads, or even since coming to Canada?
Before joining A Few Good Lads, I didn’t have any experience in industries related to construction, so it’s been eye-opening. One thing that has really stood out to me since starting in January is how accommodating and invested our clients are in the lads we provide. Even though these workers aren’t necessarily their direct employees, many clients are willing to put in the time and effort to train them. Of course, there’s the possibility they may bring them on full-time later, but the fact that they’re so willing to impart their knowledge is really impressive.
I’m not sure this would be as common in the UK. From what I’ve seen, Canada—especially BC—is a great place to build a career in construction and grow your skill set. The clients we work with show a real willingness to support that development, and I think A Few Good Lads provides a strong pathway for people to advance in the trades. Again, I’m not sure you’d find that same level of investment and mentorship as easily back in the UK.
And do you think that’s because in BC, we kind of have the great exodus of the tradesmen, and there’s more emphasis right now to kind of retain skilled trades workers?
I’d say there’s definitely an element of clients wanting to retain skilled workers, especially if they come across someone with a particular skill set they need. But, from what I’ve seen, one of the biggest drivers for clients investing time into upskilling workers is attitude. I always tell the lads, especially general laborers, during onboarding that the key to success right now is having a good attitude. That’s the bare minimum.
If you show up with a positive attitude, clients will want to keep you around, and they’ll be willing to share their knowledge and help you build your skill set. Of course, having some experience and skills helps, but attitude is the foundation. It’s the most important factor for setting yourself up for success.
What resources and opportunities have A Few Good Lads provided to help grow your career?
When I joined A Few Good Lads, I didn’t have a background in recruitment or anything related, so I definitely felt like I was thrown in at the deep end. But what’s great about working with Matt, my boss, is that he’s really attentive to the fact that everyone’s doing their best and learning as they go. He wouldn’t have brought me on otherwise, and it ties back to the importance of attitude. Matt has a good eye for spotting people with the right mindset, and I think everyone I work with closely has that same attitude.
One of the most valuable resources he’s provided is time. He didn’t expect me to come in and immediately know everything, especially when it came to handling payroll or recruitment—things I had never done before. He’s given me the time and patience to learn on the job, which has been incredibly helpful. I’ve been learning as I go, and having that space to take my own journey and figure things out has been crucial.
The support system here is also fantastic. If I ever need help, I know I can ask for it. For example, if I were to send a message in our team chat right now saying I’m struggling with something, I’d immediately get responses from everyone offering assistance. That sense of team support has really helped me overcome any imposter syndrome I had, especially coming from a completely different background. I’m really grateful for the patience, support, and the team culture that’s been in place to help me succeed.
What advice would you give to other international workers in your position and considering a career in Canada?
My advice would be to be fearless, both in your work life and your social life. Just go for it. If you’ve already made the move to Canada, then you’ve already taken a huge step, so you don’t need much more encouragement in that sense. But once you’re here, there’s so much you can do. It’s easy to fall into a routine and just replicate what you were doing back home, going through the motions of work and life. But I’d say, take advantage of the opportunities here.
When it comes to work, do your best to upskill and progress as much as you can. And when you’re off work, use your downtime wisely—go hiking, explore new places, and try new things. It’s about balancing hard work with making the most of your personal time. If your goal is to stay in Canada long-term, that effort you put in at work will pay off and help secure your future here. So my advice would be to work hard, play hard, and make the most of your time, both on the job and outside of it.