Find out more about the designers and builders putting their own fees on the line for The Renovation Game.
The Master Builders
Paul Puccioni
Paul Puccioni - otherwise known as Puch - is a multi-talented master builder. He has a degree in French and Italian, also speaks three other languages and has written two novels. In addition to all this he also has 25 years experience in the building trade. Paul never intended to become a builder but he did building work during his university holidays, to pay for a round the world trip afterwards... and found that he rather liked it. Indeed, Paul would say he loves his job. Fed up with everyone assuming that all builders are cowboys, Puch set up The Building Sheriff, a website that give laypeople advice about building prices, labour costs and tradesman's rates. It has quickly become a very popular independent price guide website.
Philippa Tuttiett
From a very young age, Philippa's father encouraged her involvement in his building company and throughout her teenage years both her father and grandfather (a highly successful carpenter) taught her many trades including plastering, tiling, carpentry and rendering. She is now the third generation of successful and respected builders and runs her own company called FBI - Female Building and Interiors - which she started in 2007 after obtaining a BA degree from Cardiff University in Communications. Philippa works with The Construction Youth Trust offering construction courses to women and young people in Wales and encouraging them to go into the construction business. Off the building site, Philippa is a talented rugby player and has represented Wales in Rugby Union, 7's Rugby and Touch Rugby. She's won the Welsh Rugby Union player of the year and recently was nominated for Welsh Touch Rugby Player of the year.
Michael Mangan
Michael has been in the construction industry for over thirty years having started working with his father from a young age. Michael is a qualified bricklayer as well as a trained carpenter and decorator. He has also been a project manager at one of London's well known construction companies and enjoys both being on the tools and running large projects. He always works closely with clients throughout the design stage to make sure that they not only achieve the highest possible finish but work within their budgets. Michael's skills are not just limited to every day construction; he has also done extensive renovation works at many of London's Historic Royal Palaces and enjoys restoring period properties.
The Builders
Jamie Brooks
Jamie has been in the construction industry since he left school at 16 but he learnt the beginnings of his trade from his dad from the age of 11 onwards. His specialist area is carpentry and joinery and he studied this for three years at Guildford College. He's not only a chippy, he also has an eye for contemporary design that enables him to create some fashionable and clever storage solutions for modern housing - he loves making amazing things from wood. Jamie works for himself and over the years has moved from pure cabinet-making jobs into project managing more general building jobs such as loft and basement conversions. Jamie is young, cool and good looking. He describes himself as easygoing and good under pressure, in fact the more pressure the better, really!
Huntley Thawe
Huntley is an all round handyman who's been in the business for 20 years. He has a range of skills, including plumbing, tiling, kitchen & bathroom fitting, carpentry, plastering and floor fitting. Huntley describes himself as the joker in the pack and his motto is that work is about the 'banter', not the work - otherwise it's too boring! Huntley is a team player who will always be at hand to help and will work late to make sure his work gets finished. He admits that his mouth can get him in trouble as he's very vocal and doesn't always think things through, but he never means anyone harm and although he's expressive he doesn't really get angry and never holds grudges. When he's not on the working on a building site he runs a DJ business working at parties and in night clubs... and yes, he's one of those DJs who likes to talk!
Yves Way
Yves's active mind and creative personality has always kept him busy. After leaving school, he worked on a local construction site labouring for a variety of trades. Deciding to do his City and Guilds in carpentry, Yves was accepted by a local building company to become an apprentice and three years later he was awarded a certificate from the Institute of Carpenters. By the time he was 20, Yves was in charge of a small team of shop fitters and managing projects and the following year he started his own business, RightWay Carpentry, specialising in kitchen fitting. Yves has a passion for property and has bought and renovated a number of his own. Yves says 'I love what I do - it's my job and my hobby!' Away from work Yves is very active in sport, from running and swimming to Thai Boxing, having had seven professional fights and trained in Thailand. He has now retired from competing and just trains for fun and fitness.
Angie Parkinson
Angie Parkinson is a 27 year old gas engineer/plumber from Blackpool, Lancashire. In 2005 after a stint running a pub and working abroad Angie headed to her local college and got an apprenticeship as a plumbers mate. Now, nearly seven years gas safe, she is loving learning all the trades and continues to have fun whilst she does it. Angie now runs her own business and is also in the middle of a university course in construction management which finishes in June 2012. Parting words from Angie? She would encourage anybody who wants to get into a trade to go for it, regardless of age, colour, or sex!
Marcel Reeves-Walker
Marcel Reeves-Walker has been in the building trade for over 12 years. He's an all rounder who can turn his hand to electrics, plumbing, carpentry, plastering, painting and tiling& anything a job throws at him really.
Marcel runs his own company and is used to adding value to properties on tight budgets and deadlines. He describes himself as gregarious, friendly and fun and he works well under pressure. Just as well really!
Clare Fitzmaurice
Clare Fitzmaurice is a plumber and gas engineer from Liverpool. Clare didnt start out in the building trade but eventually found her vocation after becoming an apprentice plumber back in 2008 - and is now in the process of qualifying as a Gas Safe engineer. Clare is passionate and committed to her job, and loves getting involved in all aspects of the trade. Her energy and drive make her an asset to the team - but she makes sure to keep it fun! Clare made a big contribution to the Children in Need Big Build in 2011, helping renovate a youth club in Liverpool. She likes nothing better than throwing her camping gear into the back of the car and heading off for the weekend into the countryside. Clare describes herself as a happy, fun girl with loads of get up and go!
Jodie Douglas
People often ask how Jodie got into carpentry and she tells them: it was Lego! As a child she was always making things and keen to help her Dad with home improvements. Jodie studied Design at Goldsmiths University, where she became interested in cabinet making and furniture design, and has since worked for several well known cabinet makers - as well as for herself. She has quite often ended up being the only female in a workshop full of men, which has taught her to prove her worth and to stand up for herself - as she says, women can do the work just as well, if not better! Jodie had a gap in her career where she contracted a virus that paralysed her, which meant she had to learn everything from scratch - including learning how to walk again. Happily, it was a battle that she won and she continues to improve. Jodie is a keen sailor (she took part in the Clipper round-the-world yacht race), avid snowboarder, and has recently taken up rowing. She likes nothing more than to be part of a happy team and covered in sawdust.
Simon Price
Brighton-born Simon has been working in the construction business since he was 16, initially as a kitchen fitter, then going on to do two years at Chichester College, training as a carpenter and perfecting his plastering skills. Simon is in the process of renovating his second property, which he shares with his brother - perfect practice for boosting property value! As his increased confidence pushes him to take on larger and more challenging projects, Simon especially loves coming up with creative ideas to please his customers and he's not afraid to take a risk. Simon was a keen rugby player, playing for Sussex County Rugby Team, and now tries to keep in shape at his local gym.
The Design Team
Ben Hillman
Since winning 'The Next Big Thing' in Interior Design 2010 and presenting a series of design features for This Morning, Ben taught the nation how to adapt and upcycle furniture to create unique and individual living spaces, and ultimately achieve a little bling without the sting. Ben's feet have yet to hit the ground as he has gone on to work on a number of design and renovation programmes. Having formally studied Product and Furniture Design and with an affinity for all things home, Ben found early success launching one of the worlds first portable LED lights and then went on to prototype furniture designs for Conran. Ben cut his teeth in the world of interior styling at Wallpaper magazine and The White Company, working on many of their high profile design features and publications. Ben is a hands-on designer who likes to get involved with all things construction. With his unrelenting passion for design and architecture, along with his upbeat and chipper personality, his verve and creativity never fail to enthuse and entertain.
Debbie Greasley
Debbie has a wealth of experience and knowledge in property presentation, and is simply passionate about colour and design.She has whizzed through hundreds of tired-looking homes for homeowners, achieving the maximum value and a quicker sale. She styles showhomes for new housing developments, creating aspirational lifestyle looks. Debbie also loves designing for homeowners wanting to update their homes for living, too; from a simple colour scheme, a quick makeover, through to full-on renovations. Debbie's company CoCo Interiors Ltd has been established for over 14 years. She has had her work featured in At Home, Ideal Homes and House Beautiful magazines and has won an award for her styling skills. Debbie is also a professional colour consultant for a leading paint brand. Most of all, Debbie loves the reward of improving someone's life by making their homes a better place to live in!
