Bob Lall of Red Design and Build

🐾Pack Mentality Spotlight: Bob Lall - Red Design and Build 🐾

Why We’re Proud to Have Bob in the Jackal Pack

At Jackal, the Pack is built on more than just workwear — it’s built on values. For Bob Lall, founder of Red Design and Build, those values are crystal clear: speak up for mental health, fight back against tool theft, and back genuine, authentic people in the trade community. With decades of experience across the tools and in senior construction management, Bob brings a rare mix of skill, insight and integrity to the Pack.

 

Q&A with Bob Lall

Why did you join The Pack?

Tell us what drew you to Jackal Workwear and why being part of The Pack matters to you.

“I joined the Pack because I believe in standing for something real. Mental health is incredibly important to me — too often it’s ignored, especially in industries that pride themselves on toughness. I want to help break that silence. I also have zero tolerance for tool theft — I’ve seen firsthand how it affects hard-working people. And I’m passionate about supporting genuine people on social media — the ones who engage and care about their community. This Pack represents those values, and that’s exactly why I’m here.”

 

What made you get into the trade?

Share a bit about your journey into construction—what inspired you or led you here?

“I’ve always been hands-on and practical. Even as a kid, I’d take apart my toys just to rebuild them into something different. That love for creating led me to carpentry and joinery early on. I finished my C&J apprenticeship, then went to university for Construction Management. I spent around 16 years working my way from Contracts Manager to Senior Project Manager. After years behind a desk, I decided it was time to get back to what I loved — working with my hands and building things that meant something to me. That’s when I started Red Design, and I haven’t looked back.”

 

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you on-site?

We all have funny or bizarre stories—what’s yours?

“Clients who micromanage everything. They’re building multi-million-pound homes but can’t put two bits of Lego together without checking YouTube first. They’ll hover over you asking why the screw faces that way… while holding the drawing upside down. Like being managed by a toddler with a clipboard. You’ve got to laugh or you’ll cry!”

 

If you were a tool, what would you be and why?

A playful question that lets your personality shine.

“Big table saw — I like big things and I’ve got a big personality. Straight to the point, no messing around, built for precision. Reliable, sharp when I need to be, and able to rip through tough challenges without breaking a sweat. But handle with respect — I don’t tolerate nonsense.”

 

What Jackal design do you want to see next and why?

We’re always listening to The Pack for ideas.

“A pack of Jackals, each doing their own thing to take a mental break — one cycling, one kicking a football, one lifting weights, one sketching, maybe one just chilling in nature. Each represents how we reset and protect mental health individually, but still as a crew.”

 

Your question for The Pack

“What do you do for yourself? How do you take a mental break and recharge?”

 

Industry Insights: Bob Lall on Key Issues

 

Mental Health in Construction

“I’ve worked across the industry, from the tools to senior management. Mental health affects people at every level. The pressure, long hours and constant grind take a toll, but the silence around it makes it worse. I’ve kept things bottled up myself just to keep things moving — but it’s not sustainable. We need to stop acting like stress and burnout are just part of the job. We need open conversations, real support, and to call out toxic behaviour. Narcissistic, manipulative managers do real damage to teams — they either need to change or get out. The future of construction should be about skill, respect, teamwork, and protecting the mental well-being of those who build our world.”

 

Tool Theft — A Personal Hit

“Early in my career, my van was cleaned out outside a Tesco. No insurance, young and naive — it nearly broke me. I bought cheap tools just to keep going. I still have a couple of them 20+ years later as a reminder. Tool theft isn’t just about kit — it’s years of graft and pride stolen. We need real punishment for it — bait vans with trackers, proper sting ops, crime rings shut down. Right now, you can get a harsher penalty for a comment online than for stealing someone’s livelihood. That’s a joke. Tool theft is life-ruining, and it’s time we treat it that way.”

 

Why Bob Makes the Pack Stronger

Bob Lall is a builder in every sense — of projects, of businesses, of communities. His refusal to