Q & A: Ryan Miles

29 January 2021

Ryan Miles is a Director of the award-winning independent Miles Hire. With its headquarters in Swansea, the business has other depots in Cardiff, Bridgend and Newport, and there are plans for further growth in 2021.

How’s business?

January has been very positive and we had 60% of our plant out on hire before the end of the first week back. Traditionally it’s slower than that, so we’re very pleased.

What products are in particular demand at the moment?

It’s pretty much across the board. The dry weather at the start of the month enabled a lot of groundworks to get started, and we’re finding demand for most items in the fleet.

What’s the best part of your job?

The fact that each day is completely different. In hire you never know what curveball you’ll be thrown next, or what challenge will come across your desk. You’re certainly never bored in this industry.

And what’s the worst part?

The uncertainly about the coronavirus and the lockdowns. It’s hard to know if your plans are too positive or too negative, but that’s another challenge you have to accept. Brexit might also prove to be an issue, although I think most people will just get on with doing business.

Who or what inspires you?

For me and my brother Darren, who’s also a Miles Hire director, our father [David] inspired us. He established our original hire business in 1979, having been a builder, and he instilled in us the fact that the customer always comes first.

What annoys/frustrates you?

One thing is the slow take-up of green products. When you think of all the kit used in the construction industry, so much of it is still petrol or diesel driven. People were talking about the need to be environmentally friendly ten years ago or more, but things don’t seem to have moved on that much [something discussed previously here on the blog]. Old construction habits are hard to break. 

What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve ever been given, or that you would pass on to others?

When I did a management course at Swansea University, I remember being told: work on your business, not in it. You need to step back occasionally in order to plan. Another phrase I like is Listen, Learn, Lead.

What new skill would you like to learn?

Patience! I’m always trying to move forward and get things done fast.

How do you relax after a hard day?

I do a lot of walking. I also relax obviously when I’m on holiday. We’re hoping to book a break in Ibiza when we are able to. We’ve been five times and I love it there, although I’m getting a bit old for clubbing now!

What was your favourite school subject?

History. I found World War II particularly fascinating. My grandmother was in the Women’s Land Army and my grandfather took part in the D-Day Landings, so it has always had a particular resonance. 

If things had been different, what other career might you have chosen?

My first job was in insurance so I might have stayed there if I hadn’t joined Miles Hire in 2003. I managed an insurance broker which was also an independent business and very focused on customer service, so those similarities held me in good stead.

Tell me a surprising fact about yourself or your business.

I’m not good at DIY, which is ironic given the number of tools we have in the hire fleet, and our father built the original family home! Darren’s really the technical brain of the business. 

Do you follow a particular sport and/or team?

Welsh rugby.

What is the biggest challenge facing your business or the wider industry?

Again, the unknown impact of Covid, which is the same for us all. But unlike during the 2008 credit crunch, there seems to be money available and a lot of projects are going ahead at the moment.

What’s the secret of success?

You’ve got to be passionate about what you do and want to make progress. When you wake up in the morning you tell yourself to seize the day.

Finally, is there anything you would like to add about the business, the current trading outlook or future plans?

We certainly have a lot of plans over the next few months. For a start we’ll be expanding our Cardiff depot and we’ll be announcing other developments soon.

There'll be another Q & A here on the site next Friday.