1 : WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE SUBJECT AT SCHOOL ?

A :

English – I went to The Avenue Comprehensive at a time when the school had falling pupil numbers and was set to close . There was an English supply teacher who was superb , she literally got us all through our GCSEs . She definitely inspired and encouraged a love of English in the process .

2 : WHO WAS YOUR CHILDHOOD HERO , AND WHY ?

A :

My dad . He ’ s my adult hero , too ! He ’ s the calmest , coolest , most wonderful guy who worked on the business park at Bakelite , 3M and Perstorp for nearly all of his career . He studied at night class while working full-time with a young family and set a great example .

3 : HOW DID YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW ?

A : My mam and dad were incredible , always encouraging and supporting – they really believed in the value of a good education . From a work perspective I think working alongside and being encouraged and supported by some incredible mentors and role models . One in particular is Dame Dela Smith who was the CEO at Darlington Education Village when I worked there and is a close friend to this day . Dela has been an incredible leadership role model to me and many others .

4 : WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE ORGANISATION ON AYCLIFFE BUSINESS PARK AND WHY ( EXCLUDING YOUR OWN )?

A :

I really love all of the education providers that live on the park . From UTC South Durham to South West Durham Training and Forest Park School along with many others . I think it is so powerful to have business and education living alongside each other .

5 : WHICH AYCLIFFE BUSINESS OR INDIVIDUAL DO YOU TIP FOR FUTURE SUCCESS ?

A :

Shameless plug , but my brother Paul Hind left his role as plant manager at 3M earlier this year to set up his own business , Amplified Leaders – providing workshops on safety and leadership to manufacturing businesses . He has such a great standing in the sector I think he will make it a great success

6 : WHAT ’ S THE BEST BUSINESS DECISION YOU EVER MADE ?

A :

The best decision although it was a hard one was leaving the public sector to set up my own business back in 2009 . It was scary at the time , but it was 100 % the best business decision .

7 : WHAT ’ S THE WORST DECISION YOU ’ VE EVER MADE ?

A :

That ’ s hard – I like to think I learn from decisions so even if they have seemed bad at the time they end up being good eventually .

8 : IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOUR ORGANISATION , WHAT WOULD IT BE ?

A :

At The Edwin Group we work with about 6,000 schools nationally – I think we do a really important and valuable job , so I ’ d like us to triple the number we work with and therefore broaden our impact in the next 3-5 years .

10 : WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS MANTRA ?

A :

Do the right thing . Behave well , act with integrity and honesty .

11 : WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A SMALL STARTUP ?

A : Find your niche , truly excel at it , understand your numbers , look after your people , look after your clients , then scale . The rest will follow .

12 : WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE FOR YOU ?

A : I love the voluntary NED work I do , including ABPC as well as chairing the finance committee for Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust which covers County Durham , Darlington , Stockton and Hartlepool . In time I would like to do more , but for now I ’ m very focussed on my role at Edwin – it ’ s my full-time hobby !

13 : WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR ORGANISATION ?

A :

Hugely exciting . We don ’ t currently have a base on the business park ( it ’ s on the list !) but we have clients on the park , in Newton Aycliffe and all of the surrounding areas .

14 : WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE PRIME MINISTER IF YOU SAW HIM ON AYCLIFFE BUSINESS PARK ?

A :

Let ’ s get education and business collaborating properly and make a real impact . Allocate some funding to the Aycliffe Business Park Community and we will make a difference in achieving this – just look at the brilliant Business Safaris we have ran . We could do so much more but as a team of volunteers we really need to be properly funded by government .

15 : WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE LOCAL CHARITY ?

A :

Missed a Beat – Mark Preston is doing a fabulous job .

16 : WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE LOCAL RESTAURANT ?

A :

I love The County – I think Michael and the team do a brilliant job .

17 : WHAT WOULD BE YOUR IDEAL EVENING MEAL ?

A :

Anything at all but ideally with friends or family .

18 : WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME ?

A :

I don ’ t have a lot of spare time , so I do like to plan holidays and have time to completely unwind .

19 : WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FILM , AND WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE ACTOR ?

A :

Brad Pitt is my favourite actor . I loved him in Legends of the Fall .

20 : WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE OF ?

A :

I ’ d like to see more young people and adults with SEND being supported in the workplace . People like Tracy Fee at hiyed . co . uk do an incredible job , but I think there is more employers can do to develop their understanding . Schools have a role to play here , too .

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 13