The 10-minute interview: This Is Property's Steven Clark

Hailing from Aberdeen, Steven Clark worked in the oil and gas industry for 12 years, before deciding to change course.

In 2006 he began building a property portfolio, before starting to flip them during his time at home from offshore. Then when his daughter was born in 2016, he quit the rigs to focus fully on the property business, forming SKM Consulting Scotland.

Then in 2021, Clark launched This is Property, which runs regular workshops on property investment, both in person and online - as well as co-hosting the Scottish Property Podcast.

To find out more about the man behind the business, we fired some personal questions at him:

• What does your typical day involve?

No two days are ever the same, but I do have my daily standards: I work-out in the morning or teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, drop and pick up my daughter from school, and then usually head down the office in Rosyth or travel up to Aberdeen to meet with colleagues.

I often catch up with work in the evening, once my wife and daughter are sleeping.

• What three words would colleagues use to describe you?

Energetic, focused and driven.

• If you could choose anyone, who would be your fantasy team member?

Duncan Bannatyne.

• What about your fantasy dinner guests, and why?

Dana White, the UFC president, would be a fantastic dinner guest. It would be a fascinating conversation - from his humble beginnings, to creating a company from scratch, as well as building a sport that will go down in history.

• What is your favourite way to spend time off?

Exploring the beautiful outdoors in Scotland, usually driving fantastic roads in my dream car that I purchased a couple of years ago.

• What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

You can’t be all things to all people, not everyone is going to like you and want to do business with you - and that is OK.

• And what advice would you give to the next generation?

Learn how to manage money from the start - set and follow money rules. If you know how to manage £1,000 per month every month, you will know how to manage £10,000, £100,000 or £1m!

• If you were in charge of Scotland, what would you change and why?

I would invest money in ensuring financial education is accessible to all. It is important that people of all ages can learn the basics of managing money and personal finance. This is not available and makes a significant portion of This Is Property’s courses.

I am determined to show people that everyone has the ability to get involved in property as a primary source of income, to boost an existing income and/or to better retirement plans.

• What was the last event you attended?

UFC 300 in Las Vegas with my brother, and before that, Peter Kay at the OVO Hydro last May. My wife is a big fan, so it was a big tick off on her bucket list seeing him live.

• What was the first concert you attended?

This could go down as one of my embarrassing moments... Celine Dion with my Mum.

• What is your favourite memory from your schooldays?

Being the first to pass my driving test out of my friends and unleashing the freedom it brought us in our last year.

• Describe a perfect day/night/weekend?

Day: Working out and going in the health suite, school runs with my daughter, productively moving the business forward.

Night: Date night with my wife, Kelly. Good food at one of our favourite restaurants in Edinburgh and a few drinks.

Weekend: Exploring what Scotland has to offer with my wife and daughter. Out for walks, driving good roads around the beautiful scenery in Perthshire or the Highlands.

• What is your most embarrassing moment?

Posing nude for a sports calendar!

• Who would play you in the film of your life?

Tom Hardy.

• What is your signature dish to cook?

Fillet steak and all the sides. Simple but delicious.

• If you could choose your last meal on earth, what would it be?

A full Thai cuisine feast.

• What is your karaoke song/party piece?

Green Day – Time of Your Life.

• What is your favourite part of Scotland?

The west coast, particularly Achmelvich beach, Mallaig, the Isle of Skye and Glencoe.

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