Mark Powles
Managing Director
Originally from Hereford, I moved to Cheltenham in 2010 and am married with two lovely daughters.
What attracted you to being an Architect?
It’s probably a combination of things, my parents were involved in the property market so I grew up knowing about property maintenance and, like most architects, I loved playing with Lego. I also love cars, and when I was about 11, I saw the local Architect driving round in his posh car, I remember he had a Mercedes 500SL, so I thought being an Architect was the road to my own dream car!
How did you end up working for RRA?
I always knew I wanted to be in construction, even if not an Architect, but I really didn’t love the academic world, so, instead of A Levels I studied for a National Diploma in Construction. This got me into a University in Birmingham to study Architecture. When I was just 21, I joined a small practice in Hereford, called Rod Robinson Associates, as a Part 1 Assistant. To cut a long story short I studied, worked, graduated and progressed through Rod Robinson Associates to become a director of the company when I was 26. The company became RRA Architects in 2004 and, in 2016, I became the Managing Director.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Golf, skiing and going to the rugby . Also, going out for nice meals and spending time with friends.
What do you actually do in your spare time?
I love working and doing my other job, property developing, so a lot of my ‘spare’ time is actually going through the same process that many of my clients are going through. I like to think this makes me more empathetic in my day job too.
Also spending time with my family – anyone with two young children knows that spare time is virtually non-existent. Not that I am complaining, I do enjoy home life, especially when I can indulge my passion of playing with Lego with my children.
What’s your proudest moment in your working life?
I struggled at school as an undiagnosed Dyslexic and when I said to the Careers Advisor that I wanted to be an architect, they told me that I should “lower my aspirations”. So, graduating as a fully qualified Architect and becoming a member of the RIBA are particularly sweet moments for me.
Also, I would have to say when I became sole owner of RRA, knowing how hard I had worked to get there.
If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go and why?
Easy, a ski resort with fresh powder snow and a good Apre Ski bar.
What’s one thing on your Bucket List?
Watching the Monaco Grand Prix from a private yacht.
What do you hope people think about you?
That I give good, solid, professional advice to clients and that I am an honest, good bloke, who people are happy to call their friend.