No single topic, no fixed agenda: we're catching up with Cara and Nic on the last few weeks. The good, the brutal, and everything in between.

From crashing the truck mid-burnout, to a surprise Paint & Sip class, to the difficult conversation at work that nobody wanted to have (but really needed to).

Sometimes life's a bit too full for a neat theme. This is one of those episodes.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

💌 Sign up to our email list at https://nattyshedlife.com!

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s

Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

Website: https://nattyshedlife.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

In this episode, Cara and Nicola get into the thing nobody gives you permission to do – to carve out time and space for yourself.

What does that actually look like in practice? Why is it so hard to know what you want, after years of putting everyone else first?

But what happens to you (and everyone around you) when you don't get it?

Society isn't built for it. Your to-do list won't allow it. But you have to find it anyway.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

💌 Sign up to our email list at https://nattyshedlife.com!

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s

Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

Website: https://nattyshedlife.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

From the two-week detox update, to the very real damage being done to children's self-esteem, mental health, and ability to think for themselves – you better believe we have thoughts on social media.

How do you protect them when the platforms are designed to keep them hooked? When the rules keep changing? And when they'll find a way in regardless?

We're part of the generation that was handed this technology as a gift and promised it was going to change the world for the better. Now we're watching our kids grow up inside it, and we're seeing what it's doing to them.

A reckoning is coming, and it's not going to be pretty.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

💌 Sign up to our email list at https://nattyshedlife.com!

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s

Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

Website: https://nattyshedlife.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

In this episode, Cara and Nicola get into the doomscrolling and the algorithms – the way it's changed from something that was supposed to bring us closer together, and how it's turned into something that controls us at best, and rips us apart at worst.

We're not here to tell you to delete the app. But – ask yourself: who are you when you're not filling up the space with everyone else's noise?

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

💌 Sign up to our email list at https://nattyshedlife.com!

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s

Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

Website: https://nattyshedlife.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

In this episode, Cara and Nicola unpack the ups and downs, trials and tribulations, and what it's like for them raising children in today’s world.

Expectations are high, information is endless, and the fear of getting it wrong is always present...

From conversations about space and burnout, to trust, trauma, and what kids actually need from us, this is a raw and honest look at being parents.

We don't claim to have all the answers – just our own experience and stories.

(P.S. Send wine 🙏)

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

💌 Sign up to our email list at https://nattyshedlife.com!

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s

Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

Website: https://nattyshedlife.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

After travelling to Dublin to see her speak, this episode became something more than a conference recap – it's a reflection on the impact Brené's work has had on us, on Gillies & Mackay, and on the way we show up every day.

From Dare to Lead and Strong Ground, to vulnerability, emotional regulation and systems thinking – Brené’s work has fundamentally changed how we understand not only leadership, but ourselves as humans.

This episode is in one part a love letter to Brené, and in the other – our wholehearted encouragement for anyone who hasn’t yet stepped into the Brené bubble.

If you’re willing to do the work – it will work for you 🧡

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

💌 Sign up to our email list at https://nattyshedlife.com!

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s

Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

Website: https://nattyshedlife.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

This season we’re exploring some bigger themes – with space for conversations and stories about the real stuff that actually shapes our lives.

In this episode, we talk about GOALS – how easy it is to mess them up, how we’ve learned to reflect better, and why mortality might be the most powerful motivator of all 💀

This isn’t about becoming a new person every new year, but simply being more intentional with the one life you actually have.

Welcome back to NattyShedLife 👋

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

💌 Sign up to our email list at https://nattyshedlife.com!

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s

Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

Website: https://nattyshedlife.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

This is a conversation about trust built over time, decisions made under pressure, and the responsibility that comes with leading people you genuinely care about. Cara and Nicola reflect on how their relationship began, how it’s been tested, and how it’s grown through moments of uncertainty, conflict, resilience, and belief.

They talk openly about leadership that feels human – we cover the emotional cost of doing the right thing, and the importance of having someone beside you who sees the full picture when things get heavy.

This episode is an honest reflection on partnership, care, and what it really takes to keep moving forward together. Oh, and boy do we have a lot of fun.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s

Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

Website: https://nattyshedlife.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

In this special episode, Cara looks back at the real beginnings of Gillies & Mackay – not as a company, but as a young family trying to make a life.

Working in an old farm, raising five children, borrowing tools and favours, learning as they went… they created a business that's over 35 years in now, built on the foundations of love, graft, courage and pure belief.

This is the story of where G&M truly started – in a home, in a family, and in the hearts of three people who gave everything to build something that would last.

This penultimate episode of Season 1 of the NattyShedLife Podcast is a warm, honest tribute to the people who made it possible.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s

Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

Website: https://nattyshedlife.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

In this episode, Cara sits down with Nic to talk about one of the workshop’s most heartfelt grafters: the effort, the setbacks, the expectations he carried, the pressure he put on himself, and the growth that came from all the moments he thought he wasn’t getting it right.

This is a quiet, powerful episode about the kind of growth you don’t always see – the growth that happens on the inside first. Dean is a reminder that becoming good at your craft means becoming good with yourself, too.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s

Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

Website: https://nattyshedlife.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

In this episode, Cara reflects on the man who has been in her life since childhood: the funny, warm, endlessly hardworking “big brother” figure who helped raise not only her, but the business too – and helped steer it through some of its hardest eras.

We revisit the turning points that reshaped Gordon and Cara's relationship: cultural turbulence, leadership transition, COVID crisis, and the moment Gordon stepped forward to help Cara carry the weight.

Gordon isn’t just a company director – he’s one of the strongest foundations within the business.

This is the story of the man who shows up, every day, for everyone – and the legacy he’s still building.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s
• Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

• Website: https://nattyshedlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

In this episode, Cara and Nic take us behind the scenes of the team who have to navigating tight access, wild weather, unpredictable ground, and all the curveballs that come with delivering and assembling our wonderful buildings in the real world.

You’ll hear honest reflections about leadership, teamwork, on-site realities, trust, responsibility, and what it takes to do the job to perfection – day in, day out.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s  
• Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

• Website: https://nattyshedlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

He grew up around the business, started sweeping up as a kid, trained as a master craftsman, and became the person who can build the most complex structures G&M has ever produced.

In this episode, Cara and Nicola look back on 17 years of Chrissy’s impact – in the workshop, in the culture, and in their lives.

From the summers spent island-hopping with the G&M “family cult” to the early days on site, right through to becoming Workshop Manager, Chrissy’s story is woven into every piece of the company’s history.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s  
• Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

• Website: https://nattyshedlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

The women who keep the wheels turning, the money right, the systems tight, the stress level survivable, and the whole operation alive.

In this episode, Cara and Nicola go deep into the unseen work behind the scenes – the hard graft, the responsibility, the loyalty, the emotional labour and the absolute brilliance of the two women who hold G&M HQ together.

This is the story of two extraordinary, loyal, razor-sharp, big-hearted women who don’t stand in the spotlight – but who make everything possible.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s  
• Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

• Website: https://nattyshedlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

From writing newsletters that customers adore to supporting the younger ones in the family, Sophie brings a softness and a strength that makes all of us proud.

You’ll hear about the pride (and the tears) that come with watching her grow up around the business, and is now quietly becoming one of its brightest talents.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s  
• Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

• Website: https://nattyshedlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

While she's definitely making magic happen, Amy's not here to sprinkle glitter ✨ she’s got serious work to get done.

You've maybe seen her in G&M's Instagram reels – Amy's the sharp, creative, no-nonsense mind behind so much of the brand’s content strategy. She's the one who turns ideas into reality, chaos into systems, and Cara’s wildest thoughts into campaigns that actually make people care about what we do.

Amy brings everything – humour, clarity, colour, and intelligence to every corner of the marketing department – and she does it with a kind of ease that’s, honestly... unfair.

This episode is all about Amy.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s  
• Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

• Website: https://nattyshedlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

Then he left. And when he did, it broke hearts 💔

But the story didn’t end there.

In this episode, Cara revisits one of her most emotional chapters in the business – the story of Lewis Duncan’s journey into G&M, his departure, and his triumphant return.

From wood-cutting chaos during covid, to finding his pace, his confidence, and his purpose – this episode is a story about growth, perspective, and the power of coming back stronger.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s  
• Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

• Website: https://nattyshedlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

Ali’s drive and quiet ambition have already made him indispensable on the sales floor. John’s curiosity and technical skill are transforming how marketing runs behind the scenes.

This episode dives into what it means to grow inside a family business, how mentorship and trust build the next generation of leaders, and why letting go – and letting them lead – is the only way forward.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s  
• Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

• Website: https://nattyshedlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

Gillies & Mackay took home Perthshire Family Business at the Courier Business Awards 2025 last Friday – and we’re still buzzing ✨

In this bonus episode, Cara relives the night – the nerves, the chaos, the cocktails, and the moment we actually won. From Apex rubber ducks to heartfelt pride in the team, this one is pure celebration ❤️

But it’s more than just a pat on the back – it’s a look at what recognition means for a small family business, why it matters to celebrate, and how this is just the start of a much bigger story.

Plus 👀 a wee teaser for the Herald Family Business Awards (and a certain nomination Kieran might want to hear about 👏)

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s
• Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

• Website: https://nattyshedlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

He joined Gillies & Mackay at 16 with no plan, no trade, and no idea what he was walking into. What followed was years of pressure, chaos, heavy graft and brutal lessons on-site – the kind that either break you or build you. Calum chose to build.

From cutter to delivery team, from apprenticeship to leading operations, and now building his own company inside the business – this is a story about resilience, responsibility, standards and belief.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode – subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s  
• Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

• Website: https://nattyshedlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

Bobbie is the lead woodcutter – the starting point of every single build. Relentlessly consistent, fiercely reliable and quietly influential, he sets the pace of the entire workshop. If Bobbie cuts it, everyone else trusts it.

Jamie is one of our bench joiners – calm, hyper-focused and razor precise. In just six months, he went from new start to building some of our most complex structures to a standard that raised the bar for the whole company.

In this episode we talk about:

• Why reliability beats experience every time
• Speed vs precision — and why they chose precision
• The partnerships that shape progress
• The craft and mindset it takes to build something that lasts
• Fatherhood, growth and stepping into responsibility young

These two don’t make noise – they make progress. And they are proof that the next generation of Gillies & Mackay have already arrived.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode — subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s  
• Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

• Website: https://nattyshedlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

Arran joined the business quietly, head down, and quickly proved himself indispensable. From taking on complex builds to stepping into leadership moments, he’s now begun an adult apprenticeship – a fast-track path to master craftsman – showing just how far he’s come.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Arran found his place in the team during a turbulent time
• The craft and detail that make a finishing joiner’s role so vital
• The mentorship and partnership that shaped his growth
• Confidence, culture, and why investing in people matters

Arran’s journey is a reminder of what’s possible when you combine natural skill with the right support – and why the next era at Gillies & Mackay is so exciting.

This episode celebrates not just Kieran’s story, but the people who make our business what it is.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode — subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s  
• Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

• Website: https://nattyshedlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!

To kick off the new series, we’re shining a spotlight on Kieran, our very own Sales Manager (and everyone’s favourite happy soul). From starting as a Saturday lad at 17 to becoming the face of sales at Gillies & Mackay, Kieran’s journey is full of graft, growth, and a fair bit of banter.

In this episode we chat about:

• His path from weekend shifts to leading the sales team
• The moments that proved his leadership and empathy
• Funny memories (including “evil genius” tendencies)
• Why he’s become such a cornerstone of the business

This episode celebrates not just Kieran’s story, but the people who make our business what it is.

🎙️ About NattyShedLife

NattyShedLife is where we share the stories, people, and lessons that shape Gillies & Mackay. From team spotlights to behind-the-scenes chats, this is your place to hear what really goes into building a business with legacy at its core.

🔔 Subscribe & Listen

Never miss an episode — subscribe for free on your favourite platform:

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NattyShedLife
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nattyshedlife/id1691999360
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PTAxiE6p5T7ITHST05h3s  
• Alitu: https://nattyshedlife.alitu.com/

📲 Connect with Us

• Website: https://nattyshedlife.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nattyshedlife/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NattyShedLife/

💌 Got a question or idea for the pod? Drop us a message at hello@nattyshedlife.com!