A CONSTRUCTION company is turning into something of a family affair with six fathers working alongside their children.

Whelan, based in Gosforth, Newcastle, has five fathers and sons working together, and one father and daughter.

Construction director Bob Warren has been with the company for 31 years and his son, Anthony, has been with the company for more than 20 years and is now a site manager.

Technical director Bill Swan joined the company just before Bob in 1977 and his son, Niki, joined his father at work in 2002 and is now an assistant estimator.

Managing director Tony Whelan also kept the family tradition going, when his son, Tim, was taken on as an apprentice joiner.

As well as directors working with their families, there are also site staff working with family members daily.

Joiner Brian Fish, senior, has been in his job for 27 years, and his son, Brian, joined the company as a joiner six years ago.

Ken and Les Ayres joined as a team in 2000 as concrete floor finishers. Finally, proving there is room for women in the construction industry, site manager Terry Routledge’s daughter, Kirby, became assistant administrator earlier this year. Mr Whelan said: “Families work hard and play hard together and, if you can enforce that into a working day, it makes for good practice.”