Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 33
8.
“Someone said to me
that “your resources are
in your relationships”
and it is so true. ”
together with string…
12.
19.
13.
14.
10.
1.
2.
3.
handcrafted drum kits right here in
County Durham and are exporting
them all around the world. With a
growing list of celebrity endorsees,
I’m certain you’ll be seeing them
being used by drummers on stages for
headline events in the next few years.
What do you do?
I oversee all the businesses based at
the Xcel Centre, including all events
and conferences, jacksons coffeehouse
& Little Cubs Nursery.
Who have you worked
for in the past?
My first job was with Royal Bank of
Scotland. I’ve also spent some time
doing business consultancy for several
local companies before starting the
Xcel Centre project.
8.
Best part of your job?
The variety – no two days are the
same!
4.
Is there anything about your job that
you really don’t like?
Spreadsheets!
9.
5.
6.
7.
Favourite thing about working on
Aycliffe Business Park?
Definitely the people. We have some
outstanding companies on the park
which are a success because of the
people behind them. I love how there
is such a great sense of community
between us all and everyone is
cheering each other on.
Which company/individual on the
park do you do the most work with?
Probably Northern Janitorial Supplies.
You need a reliable supply of cleaning
products and loo roll when you have
over 1,000 people through the building
every week!
Who’s your tip for future success?
Liberty Drums. Founded by a friend
of mine, Andrew Street, they build
Four famous people you’d love to
have round for dinner and why?
Top of my list would be Heston
Blumenthal as I’d love him to do the
cooking! I’d love to ask Howard Schultz
(Starbucks founder) about how he
stuck to his vision and created one of
the worlds most recognisable brands.
To entertain us all I would have to
include Peter Kay. And finally Julie
Walters as I think she’d be fascinating
company.
If you could do something else in
business, what would it be?
My retirement plan would be to run
a teashop combined with an old
fashioned bookshop (you know, the
one’s with real books made of paper?!)
as although I love the convenience of
ebooks, you can’t beat a real book!
10. Who’s your favourite Tweeter?
11.
@Queen_UK - makes me laugh
especially all the tweets during royal
events.
Have you ever done anything really
daring?
I don’t really live life on the edge, but
I think the most daring thing I have
done was probably when I flew to
Romania in 1992 on my own and took
an internal flight within Romania. The
cabin was shared with chickens as well
as humans, and seatbelts were held
15.
16.
17.
What’s the best piece of business
advice you’ve been given?
Someone said to me that “your
resources are in your relationships”
and it is so true. A genuine interest in
people and building relationships is key
as you never know what resources are
wrapped up in those connections.
If money was no object, what would
be your ideal car?
An Audi R8 coupe. I drove one around
Croft track last year and fell in love!
Money no object, your dream
holiday would be?
I’ve always wanted to take an
extended break and drive across the
US in a Winnebago seeing all the
sights but with no set itinerary or
timetable… unfortunately the rest of
the family aren’t so keen on the idea!
Do you have a favourite band
or type of music?
Not really, my ipod has everything
from ELO to Cold Play to 80’s classics
from Rick Astley and Michael Bolton
(probably should’ve listed these under
guilty pleasures).
What is your greatest achievement?
My family. We have three amazing
daughters and the eldest has just
started studying at Durham University.
Managing to keep them alive, healthy
and doing well feels like quite an
achievement!
How would you best describe
yourself in four words?
I was having trouble with this one so
my daughter gave me her thoughts…
“short, determined, headstrong,
problem-solver”
.
18. Where do you see yourself
in five years?
I love build projects so would love
to think I’d be involved with a new
building or maybe expanding the Xcel
Centre.
19. Who’s the most famous person
you’ve ever met?
I’ve led a fairly sheltered life so finding
it hard to think of anyone, although
I did meet Bobby Robson. It was in
the early 1980’s and our family were
on holiday in Scotland; he was stood
watching a bagpipe band and my
brother spotted him and insisted we
went over and got an autograph.
20. Do you have any guilty pleasures?
See question 15!