From humble beginnings to Skyfall – Professional Builder charts the Journey of Federation of Master Builders award winner Dorian Bowen and his company, Project One
“I’d always wanted to build things since I was a little kid.” For Dorian Bowen, founder of Project One, construction isn’t just a career – it’s a calling rooted in family tradition and childhood curiosity. Today, Bowen stands at the helm of a company known for delivering extraordinary projects like the acclaimed Skyfall, but his journey has not been straightforward.
Early inspirations and industry roots
Bowen’s fascination with buildings began early, inspired by both his family’s legacy in construction and his own desire to create. “I’d always looked at buildings and thought, wow, it would be really cool to do that,” he recalls. Yet, even as a child, he wasn’t content to simply admire – he wanted to improve, to innovate, and to build something lasting.
Learning on the job: The early years
The leap from dreamer to builder wasn’t easy. Bowen describes his early years as “scary” a time of learning on the job, often under daunting circumstances. “Learning how to do the building stuff like heavy structural work on Victorian buildings is not something taught in college,” he explains. One particularly harrowing memory: supporting a chimney through an entire building, with two neighbouring structures leaning precariously. “If it goes wrong, everything collapses.”
But the technical challenges were only half the battle. Bowen had to master the business side – structuring a company, marketing, managing people, and navigating client relationships. “It took a lot of help from accountants, bank managers, PR teams – a lot of challenges,” he admits.
Pushing through the breaking point
There were moments when the pressure nearly broke him. At one point, Bowen was juggling 22 live projects, working 18-hour days, and found himself “collapsing on the desk and breaking down in tears.” What kept him going? “The thought of going on holiday and buying a Lamborghini really helped,” he laughs, highlighting the importance of both short-term motivation and long-term vision.
Scaling up: From Wales to the world
As Project One grew, so did the complexity of its projects. Working on multi-million-pound homes in central London, with their seven stories and glass domes, brought new engineering challenges. International work, like projects in Dubai, introduced entirely different building codes and environmental hurdles. “They build on sand and do things very differently to us when it comes to building permits,” Bowen notes.
Lessons in leadership and success
Over 25 years, Bowen’s definition of success has evolved. “I used to measure success in terms of finance and awards,” he says. “Now, I measure it on how the client experience is for each project, how we can manage them through the journey and keep them in a good state of mind, and how happy they are with the project in the end.” Team wellbeing and personal time have become just as important as profit and prestige.
Advice for the next generation
Having weathered two recessions, Bowen offers sage advice: “Have a business model where you can collapse expenses in a short period of time.” He recommends short leases on equipment, careful property selection, and a cautious approach to debt. “Do not take out huge loans and take time to re-invest in the company,” he urges. Above all, he stresses the importance of a good accountant – “I didn’t understand things like directors’ loan accounts. If you push tax forward over a lot of years, you end up with a huge tax bill unexpectedly.”
Pride in people and projects
What makes Bowen most proud isn’t just the awards – though Project One has been shortlisted for the SBID Global Design Awards 12 years running – but the culture he’s built. “A lot of the guys have been here a decade or longer. Building a company that works for everybody, makes money, and wins awards – that’s what I’m proud of. The ability to take on projects in different countries and to have done it for a quarter-century, is the icing on the cake”, he adds.
The human element
Bowen believes in treating everyone with courtesy and respect, a lesson learned from years of re-encountering people in the industry. He’s also candid about the challenges of managing success: “Some people respond to it incredibly well and are motivated by it, but other people become embroiled in bitterness. Some of the hardest points of my career were removing those people.”
Looking forward
For Bowen and Project One, each project is an opportunity to learn and grow. “We would be open with people and say, we haven’t done that, but this is what we are going to do, these specialist courses we will do around it.” It’s this spirit of transparency and continuous improvement that has fuelled their rise from humble beginnings to industry leaders.
Skyfall and other landmark projects are the visible results of decades of perseverance, innovation, and teamwork. But for Dorian Bowen, the real measure of success is the journey itself – building not just structures, but a legacy.
For further information on the Federation of Master Builders visit: The Top Trade Body For Builders | FMB, Federation of Master Builders.
If you would like more information on Project One go to: Project One | Award Winning Design and Build in the South West.
