Inside Watertight | Part 2: Mark’s Story

In the next edition of our Inside Watertight series, we speak with Mark Arrowsmith, Director at Watertight, to learn more about his journey from working on construction sites to helping lead the company’s growth across the UK and Ireland.

Mark’s story is one of hard work, initiative, relationship building and a customer focused desire to always go the extra mile – values that sit right at the heart of the ‘Watertight Way’.

Q: So, Mark, tell us about how your career started.

Mark: “I came out of college after studying business studies and leisure and tourism, because originally I had aspirations of one day owning my own gym.

While I was at college, part of my apprenticeship involved joinery, so I started working in a local joinery shop for a friend’s dad. When the opportunity came up move to a civil engineering company with larger contracts I jumped at the chance to gain more experience.

The hours were long, usually 7:30 in the morning until 6pm, but it gave me a really good grounding in the construction industry. You learn a lot working on site.”

Q: At one point you went travelling. How did that come about?

Mark: “In 2009, Leah and I decided we wanted to travel, so we headed out to Australia for about 18 months. We travelled all over - the outback, Fiji, and down the east coast. I picked up some joinery work while we were out there.

Eventually we bought a camper van to travel down the coast. Leah kept feeling travel sick every day. After a while we realised it wasn’t travel sickness at all – she was actually 12 weeks pregnant!

At that point we knew it was time to come home. I now hove three beautiful children; two boys and a little girl that I adore.”

Q: What was it like returning to the UK?

Mark: “It was a shock to the system! We came back from 32 degrees in Australia and within a few days I was back on site working on Saddleworth Moor in minus 12 degrees.

It was a tough period mentally. We’d gone from this incredible experience travelling to suddenly needing to find a house, prepare for a baby and make sure we had enough money coming in.

We bought a small two-bed house and not long after that our son Connor was born.”

Q: How did you first get involved in flood resilience work?

Mark: “It happened almost by accident. I was on site one day when the site manager asked, “You’re a joiner, could you fit a flood door?”

That one job turned into five years working on flood resilience installations for United Utilities with everything from flood doors, non-return valves, barriers to a full range PFR measures. That’s really where my journey into the Property Flood Resilience sector began.”

Q: You’ve also experienced some major challenges along the way.

Mark: “Yes, one moment that sticks with me was Christmas Eve 2015. I got a phone call from the site manager telling me the company had gone bust and not to come back after Christmas. That was a difficult time.

But shortly after that Flood Safe Projects was set up and I joined the team to help get the business up and running.

We started with small jobs and built from there. Eventually we had five installation teams working across the country, delivering projects for many of the main PFR companies including Watertight. It was a busy time and I built some really strong relationships across the industry.”

Q: How did you eventually join Watertight?

Mark: “We had been doing installation work for Watertight for a couple of years and I had got to know Gareth Boyd very well.

In late 2019, Gareth asked me to consider joining Watertight who had just been appointed to the last EA PFR Framework. Gareth wanted to establish an in-house installation capability. He offered me the opportunity to come in as Operations Director which was something I’d never expected but was incredibly proud of.

I started in early 2020… and then Covid arrived!”

Q: What were those early installer days like?

Mark: “Everything paused for a while, but it actually gave me time to prepare and get organised. I started recruiting and secured business premises in Runcorn.

On 8 June 2020 – my birthday – our first installation team went out on site.

Watertight has grown to around 55 people with 12 installation teams, multiple project managers and an administration, finance, and operations hub supporting projects for major blue chip clients across the country. It’s been amazing to see and be part of that growth.”

Q: Moving from site work into leadership must have been quite a change.

Mark: “Definitely. I remember walking into my first boardroom meeting and my knees were knocking! That wasn’t the environment I was used to as I’d always been site-based but over time you grow into it and realise you’ve a place at the table for a reason.

Recently I sat in a meeting with a Tier 1 construction firm, alongside Gareth and Professor John Curtin, discussing some major projects. Moments like that still feel surreal to me. I never take those opportunities for granted.”

Q: What motivates you in your work today?

Mark: “For me, it’s about helping people. Flooding is devastating for families. If the work we do means someone can sleep in their own bed at night knowing their home is better protected from flooding, that’s the biggest reward.

Money has never really been the main driver for me. If I could run a charity helping people with the impacts of flooding, I probably would.”

Q: You’re often described as embodying the ‘Watertight Way’. What does that mean to you?

Mark: “For me it’s about being hands-on, being honest and doing what you say your going to do when you agreed to do it.

One thing that’s always stuck with me came from my very first boss on site. He used to say: “Whatever you do, always do the best job possible.” It was drilled into us that we had to be better than the rest… quicker, higher quality and done properly. That mindset has stayed with me throughout my career.

At Watertight we take the same approach. We roll our sleeves up, we understand the requirements of the task in hand, and we get the work done. We’re trusted to deliver and that matters.

If someone needs help, we’ll do whatever we can. If that means putting pumps in the back of the truck and driving out to help someone ourselves, we have done this. That’s what the Watertight Way means to me.”

Q: Finally, what does the future look like for Watertight?

Mark: “The growth we’ve seen already has been incredible and there’s still so much more potential. Flooding isn’t going away, if anything it’s increasing.

I’d love to see Watertight grow beyond the UK and Ireland, helping more communities become resilient to flooding. In 2025 we opened an office in Melbourne in Australia as part of this strategy.

If we can help more people feel safe in their own homes or businesses, that’s something I’d be incredibly proud to be part of. That is job satisfaction for me.”

Reflecting on Mark’s Watertight journey, CEO Gareth Boyd adds:

“Mark’s incredible progression as a leader in Watertight has been fantastic to observe. Mark embodies the Watertight Way. He is grounded, trusted and driven by doing things the right way, whether it is for a large client or an individual property owner.

He understands the challenges of delivering flood projects and that insight has been invaluable as we continue to grow. Mark should be very proud of his development into a highly respected, trusted industry professional”