A team of East London builders in Walthamstow is so close knit its members meet up on the weekends. Last Sunday saw six of the AE4 Build Ltd crew cycle 55 miles in the annual London to Brighton cycle ride, raising £1,780 for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity.
Five of the AE4 Build crew taking part in the bike ride had months to practice; but one cyclist did no practice at all, and only learned to ride a bike for the first time ever a few days before the race!
Mukund Venkat is the newest member of the AE4 Build team, joining just a few weeks’ ago. But that didn’t stop him getting involved: “Mukund didn’t cycle before yesterday and practised only two days before the ride,” says Ahmmad Elsaied, founder and owner of AE4 Build, who invited Mukund to join.
Ahmmad says Mukund enjoyed the day so much he now has plans to get his family involved: “He loved it and now he wants to continue cycling with his son,” adds Ahmmad.
This is the fourth year running that Ahmmad has signed up for the bike ride, and every year his cycling team grows: “Mohamed started with me 4 years ago, then Robert and Saman joined 2 years ago and this year Mukund joined us.”
The ever-expanding cycling crew reflects the steady growth of AE4 Build over the years: “Since we began 13 years ago in 2011, our team of full-time employees now numbers 16 and has finished over 100 projects together in East London.”
“Many know each other well and have worked together for 8-9 years,” Ahmmad...doesn’t hire subcontractors...and prefers to employ his team full time.
“Many know each other well and have worked together for 8-9 years,” Ahmmad says. He explains he doesn’t hire subcontractors like many other builders and prefers to employ his team full time to give him full control and flexibility. “Subcontractors are always being called away on other jobs but as my team are all my employees, I can make sure there’s always a crew on site every day until each job is finished.”
Ahmmad handpicks his employees based on their excellent workmanship and
positive attitude, and prides his crew on their teamwork spirit: “We all have different backgrounds, different beliefs and different cultures. But we are all joining together to raise money for a great cause in the UK which I find fascinating and powerful. We are like brothers really.”
Ahmmad and his cycling crew are looking forward to next year's race already and starting to assemble their team. AE4Build Ltd is an East London builder based in Waltham Forest, specialising in extensions, renovations and loft conversions. Links: | Case study: Renovation & Extension - Howard Road E17 Read about this sympathetic Period Restoration and Extension of an Edwardian Ground Floor Garden Flat we did in Walthamstow recently, |
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