Since starting back at Gleeds, he has rejigged the UK business and, along with global chief executive Graham Harle and chairman Richard Steer, drawn up the most ambitious plans in its 136-year history from a desk in his home.
These plans will see turnover increase to £400m by the end of 2024 with staff numbers jumping to 4,000 during the period.
Current turnover is split 60:40 in favour of the UK but McCormick said he expects this to fall back as the firm’s work overseas grows – with 1,500 of the extra 2,000 jobs due to come from outside the UK.
Not all of the new recruits will be wedded to desks in the future, either. McCormick thinks the days of Monday to Friday, 9-5 in an office are gone for good. “We expect around 50% of people’s time to be in the office. We don’t want to take any trust and freedom away from people that they have enjoyed [since the first lockdown]. But I suspect a lot of people like me will be pleased to get some human contact back.”