In our regular feature, we find out about members of the Scottish Decorators’ Federation. This time, it’s Artur Levickis, from Nodram Aberdeen.
Artur Levickis bought Nodram Aberdeen in 2019, helping it become one of the strongest companies in the region. The original Nodram was founded more than 20 years ago, with the first branch opening in Bathgate, followed by others in Inverness and Aberdeen. The firm was subsequently split and sold as three separate divisions.
The timing of Artur’s buyout was challenging. He took over as Covid-19 was about to strike. Despite this, the company has thrived and secured contracts with prestigious house builders in the area, including CALA, CHAP, Barratt, Bancon and Muir Homes. It has worked closely with Aberdeen City Council and contributed to the construction of a new hospital facility.
The key to success, he said, is Nodram Aberdeen’s readiness to invest in its people and help them realise their full potential. It provides continuous support, training and development opportunities to help team members grow personally and professionally.
Similarly, Nodram strives for excellence in all aspects of its work, from planning to execution. Its ability to deliver has been reflected in a number of awards and accreditations. Notably, one of its sites picked up six NHBC Awards. What’s more, in the 2024 SDF Awards the company picked up New Build Housing Project of the Year for the work it did at Summerhill Housing, in Aberdeen.
As an enthusiastic member of the Scottish Decorators Federation – Artur is President of SDF for Scotland – he is keen to see the company set new benchmarks and contribute to the growth of the construction industry.
What’s your background?
I started in the construction industry 17 years ago, I was doing lots of different projects, both internal and external painting and decorating works, when the company moved to doing a lot of spraying services and created A&B, a domestic respraying company. It was nominated as a finalist for the north of Scotland. Six years ago, I bought over the Aberdeen branch of Nodram Decorators, mainly focusing on commercial and new build projects providing painting, decorating, spraying and Ames taping services.
What’s your specialty?
We are dedicated to innovation, using new technology to improve our processes. We specialise in implementing this innovation on our projects, looking for the most efficient and quality way to work in our industry.
When did you join the SDF?
I joined the SDF seven years ago when we ran our small company in the domestic market.
What’s the best thing about the Federation?
The Federation offers us a lot of support on being compliant with the law and health and safety. Just picking up the phone means you have advice whenever you need it. The Federation advises us about the best training available to us and keeps us up to date on any changes happening in the industry. It also helps connect you to people and can help to resolve issues with larger companies that may try to take advantage of smaller ones.
In your experience, how has the Federation changed?
The Federation in my opinion is changing for the better. The improvements and hard work by all the committee members and presidents has meant that it has grown and is helping more people.
What’s been the biggest challenge in your career?
The biggest challenge for us, as it likely was for everyone, was the Covid-19 pandemic. Adjusting to the new health and safety procedures, price increases, material shortages and delays in programmes, we made it through, but it was a very challenging time.
What’s been your favourite job?
My favourite job so far has been the Summerhill site for Aberdeen City Council. It was one of the biggest projects in Aberdeen and started just before the pandemic and has finished only recently. It was a very complex job where we had to adapt to many changes and it was a very satisfying project to complete. To be highly commended in the New Build Housing Project of the Year category by the SDF was very rewarding.
What would be your dream job?
I would love to work on a big project for a charity, where we would be helping a lot of people that we could potentially sponsor and build a close relationship with.
What are your long-term plans for the business?
Our long-term plans as a business are to keep improving, looking for new and efficient ways to develop our company and its services within the industry. We would also like to take on apprentices and improve the training we can deliver to help build a better future for the decorating industry.
Can you tell us a little about your life beyond work
I am married to Agnesa and we have a son (Avraam, 5). I love to spend my time with my family, going on holiday and to places where we can explore and relax. Also, I have been trying to develop my understanding of the world around us. I am very interested in developing my spiritual side to better understand how I can improve myself and the world around me.