9 : IF YOU COULD DO SOMETHING ELSE IN BUSINESS , WHAT WOULD IT BE ?
A :
I love the marketing aspect of our business and putting systems and processes into place . If I were to do something else , it might be helping other businesses get started with their behind-thescenes processes .
10 : WHO ’ S YOUR FAVOURITE TWEETER ?
A :
I haven ’ t been on Twitter in a long while , but Duncan Bannatyne ’ s account always came across as down to earth and genuine .
11 : HAVE YOU EVER DONE ANYTHING REALLY DARING ?
A :
I ’ m not sure if it would be classed as daring but it was certainly well outside my comfort zone when I was interviewed live on BBC Radio Tees about our business when we first opened .
4 : IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR JOB THAT YOU REALLY DON ’ T LIKE ?
A :
I like everything about what we do , which is great because when you ’ re your own boss there ’ s always something to be done . If I had to choose one thing , it would be always being on call !
5 : FAVOURITE THING ABOUT WORKING ON AYCLIFFE BUSINESS PARK ?
A :
I love the diversity and the community feel across the business park . The Aycliffe Business Park Community events provide great opportunities to find out more about our neighbours and what we can offer each other .
6 : WHICH COMPANY / INDIVIDUAL ON THE PARK DO YOU DO THE MOST WORK WITH ?
A : We always like to use local companies wherever possible . Before we opened our doors we commissioned local marketing agency , Thrive , to help drill down into our ethos and design our branding . Another park business , Classic Signs , helped bring our branding to life both in and outside The Fish Tank .
7 : WHICH AYCLIFFE BUSINESS OR INDIVIDUAL DO YOU TIP FOR FUTURE SUCCESS ?
A :
After recently having the pleasure of being shown around Marcia and Phillip Atkinson ’ s BTS Facades ’ headquarters we ’ d love to see their business grow . As another family business you can see their passion and commitment to succeed and it ’ s great to see them reinvesting into the local area .
8 . FOUR FAMOUS PEOPLE YOU ’ D LOVE TO HAVE ROUND FOR DINNER AND WHY ?
A :
Maybe Duncan Bannatyne and Richard Branson , they ’ re both successful in the leisure industry and it would be great to hear their stories . Angelina Jolie would be great to hear from about being a mum and her life behind the camera and I like to follow Sara Davies on Facebook , she ’ s a mum , dragon , celebrity and fellow ABP business owner , so a bit of everything to keep the conversation flowing . I wonder if they ’ d be free ?
12 : WHAT ’ S THE BEST PIECE OF BUSINESS ADVICE YOU ’ VE BEEN GIVEN ?
A :
After looking round for venues to purchase / refurbish to grow our business at the time our bank manager suggested we build our own . The life changing advice was his belief in us to succeed and the realisation that it ’ s not having the knowledge and experience to be able to do it all yourself but the ability to get the right people around you .
13 : IF MONEY WAS NO OBJECT , WHAT WOULD BE YOUR IDEAL CAR ?
A :
This might be a little boring , but I think I already have my ideal car – my X7 !
14 : MONEY NO OBJECT , YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY WOULD BE ?
A :
Definitely some kind of round-the-world trip . We have family in Japan and Australia , and I ’ ve never been to America . We loved holidaying in Asia before having children so that would probably be in there , too .
15 : DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE BAND OR TYPE OF MUSIC ?
A :
Not really , I ’ ll listen to almost anything which is great as I don ’ t often have much say in the choices , especially in the car now our girls are getting older .
16 : WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT ?
A :
Apart from our children , having the vision , perseverance and determination to continue building The Fish Tank after the whole purpose of it was taken away along with our income and planned customers .
17 : |
HOW WOULD YOU BEST DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN FOUR WORDS ? |
A : |
Determined , inclusive , hard-working and successful . |
18 : WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS ?
A :
The owner of multiple successful venues , directing the business more strategically and having more time for our family .
19 : WHO ’ S THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON YOU ’ VE EVER MET ?
A :
I once interviewed David Bellamy OBE as a child . He was very patient and knowledgeable .
20 : DO YOU HAVE ANY GUILTY PLEASURES ?
A : Mmmm chocolate , definitely chocolate !
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 7