Meet the Team: Tom Stayte, Guiding Our Journey with Experience and a Generous Spirit

Say hello to our fantastic Team Leader, Tom Stayte! Tom has been an invaluable part of our team for nearly three years, spending a third of that time expertly guiding his own team.

Tom is based in a village almost two hours from our Reading site, which means his Thursdays can be a marathon of driving from site to warehouse and then back home. With our summer four-day work weeks, those days are long, but Tom tackles them with impressive energy.

Tom is a truly inspiring leader with years of experience under his belt. He's not only incredibly knowledgeable, but he's also a true gentleman—offering to make me a cup of tea, legend!

A Day in the Life of a Team Leader

When asked about a typical day, Tom emphasised that every day is different, though there are similarities between the cabins. "Most of the cabins are similar, but they're all different from each other in small ways," he explains. There's a set order to many tasks, like basing down cabins, putting on the roof, but the finishing details always vary.

As a Team Leader, Tom's role is to ensure his team is on track and following the plans. He also meticulously reviews drawings to ensure everything is progressing as planned, especially with projects like the current one, which has full planning permission and slightly different regulations.

From Water Sports to Wood Cabins

Before joining us, Tom spent nearly 20 years teaching water sports, including windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, paddleboarding, and surfing, along with climbing, rifles, and archery. He even ran centers and worked abroad in places like Pissouri, Cyprus, near the British bases. "It's very outdoorsy," he says of his past career.

Water sports are seasonal, so Tom also spent his winters doing a lot of general building work. This varied experience is what eventually led him to Norwegian Log. He appreciates the stability of working with us year-round, especially since he's always enjoyed building. "It's good work, I enjoy it. It's all year round, nicer in the summer, usually a bit more pleasant. Very stable."

The Perfect Blend: Cabins and Coastlines

If Tom could combine his passions, his perfect UK location to build a cabin and enjoy water sports would be Cornwall, with Crantock being his favourite spot. This week, however, Tom's staying in Lancing, just a two-minute walk from the beach—a perfect opportunity for a couple of swims!

One of the things Tom enjoys most about his role is the variety of locations and the average installation time of eight to twelve weeks (or shorter for garden rooms). "I like to go to different places and see a lot of different places," he says. Many of our cabins are in beautiful settings, often on farms with horses. "Every cabin we've done this year, they've been horses somewhere on the site," he notes with a chuckle.

Family, Fun, and the Outdoors

Tom is also a father to an 11-year-old and an 8-year-old, and he loves sharing his love for the outdoors with them. He's still good friends with the owners of his previous water sports company, which means he can take his kids paddleboarding, to their crazy golf course, and even a high ropes course for free! "Win, win," he laughs. He emphasises the importance of getting kids away from screens and out into nature.

We're incredibly grateful to have Tom as part of the Norwegian Log family. His experience, leadership, and positive attitude are a huge asset to our team!