If it hadn’t been for the global financial crisis and a sports injury, Liam Bevan’s housing journey may well have turned out very differently. The chief executive of fast-growing social housing repairs contractor Cardo Group is reminiscing about his first steps in business.

In 2008, Bevan had been about to start a trainee project manager’s position at Barratt Homes, where he had been an apprentice for two years, when the role was pulled due to the recession.

The Welshman then intended to be a self-employed carpenter but a shoulder injury suffered by the keen rugby and football player meant he had a period where he couldn’t work on the tools. He used the time to reflect and look at other options.