Warwick Shaw

Humble Beginnings

My passion for building started as a child when I helped my father renovate all our family homes. So from a humble piece of wood a hammer and some nails, I had to be constructing something.

On leaving school I started a four year apprenticeship in construction, in which time I gained my 2nd and 3rd year Advanced Craft and City & Guilds in bricklaying. During my apprenticeship I was taught all aspects of construction, from ground works to slating roofs whilst consistently gaining experience and knowledge across the trade.

After completing my apprenticeship my father insisted I gain experience of the bigger picture of construction, outside the family business. So I found myself working as a bricklayer in Southern Germany. When I returned I rejoined my father’s company, which covered a wide range of building contracts from new build houses, to sea defences projects and maintenance contracts. We also had the privilege to work on several large private estates, renovating the houses as well as the surrounding estate farms.

For several years I continued to develop my skills in bricklaying working as a subcontractor throughout Devon and Cornwall, which in turn lead to a two year period renovating houses and barns for a developer. From his recommendation my role changed to Site Agent for the refurbishment of The Elite Building in Nottingham. Costs for the external renovation of the theatre building were in excess of one million pounds.

Since the late 90’s I have concentrated on developing WShaw Ltd. During this time we have undertaken a very wide variety of building works. Recent works on three large developments as the main contractor for one of Britain’s largest shop fitting companies: – Claremont Interiors. These projects were for Plymouth City Council and included Ballard House, The Lawson’s Building and the new Plymouth Library.

Our trusted contractor base have many years of experience most of whom I have personally known for over 25 years, this is a definitive factor to the success of WShaw Ltd. Currently we are working on a refurbishment in Salcombe and a Grade II listed building in St Cleer, Cornwall. This is certainly where my passion lies, undertaking large and complex projects where I am able to oversee the project through to completion.