Half a century of shaping Glasgow- City Building celebrates its longest serving employees

There aren’t many people in Glasgow who can say they’ve spent more than half a century helping shape the city they call home. For Raymond Reeves, that claim is more than earned.

Raymond’s story was one of many recognised at City Building’s recent staff event, where employees marking 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service were also honoured. In total, more than 14,000 years of combined service was celebrated reflecting the organisation’s long-standing role in the city.

Raymond joined the organisation in 1973 as an 18-year-old labourer at its Great Western Road yard. Like many starting out, he wasn’t entirely sure where the job would take him. A year in, an opportunity came up to join the scaffolding team, where he has worked ever since.

“I was helping out the bricklayers when I was asked if I fancied giving scaffolding a go,” he recalls. “I thought I’d give it a chance. More than 50 years later, I’ve never looked back.

“I think I’ve been on just about every street in Glasgow at some point,” he says. “No two days were ever the same. One day it would be chimney repairs, the next you’d be at a school or a hospital. That variety is what makes it special.”

Today, he continues his career as a scaffolding inspector, ensuring sites across the city meet the highest safety standards. In a fitting full-circle moment, he now works alongside his son.

“It’s a great feeling seeing younger people come through,” he says. “A lot of my old colleagues’ sons are here now too. People took a chance on me when I started, so it’s important to pass that on.”

While the construction industry has evolved significantly over five decades, Raymond believes some fundamentals haven’t changed.

“At the heart of it, the job is still about making sure everyone gets home safely at the end of the day. That’s always been the priority.”

Despite reaching a milestone many would see as a natural endpoint, Raymond has no immediate plans to step away.

“I still enjoy what I do and I still feel like I’ve got something to contribute,” he says. “As long as that’s the case, I’ll keep going.”

Sharon Wearing, executive director at City Building, said Raymond’s contribution represents the very best of the business.

“It was a real privilege to recognise the dedication of so many of our colleagues.

“The level of long service we see here is something very special, and it speaks to the culture we’ve built over many years.

“Raymond’s 53 years of service is an incredible achievement. His experience, commitment and willingness to support the next generation embody everything City Building stands for.”