1. What do you do? I am managing director of Fleet Recruitment and spend my time making sure that the business delivers a great service to clients, achieves targets, spots opportunities and remains compliant. I am also the managing director of Deliberately Different, a business support organisation that provides networking, training, mentoring and coaching.
2. Who have you worked for in the past? I spent my early years in the RAF Police and went into a sales career in 1999, mostly in the vehicle leasing and management industry and latterly as Sales Director of a large national training provider.
3. Best part of your job? It’ s a great feeling to head up a business that you started from scratch and I still get excited driving into the office every day. Without a doubt it’ s knowing that we have a great reputation and that means I am doing a good job in terms of managing our standards and delivering growth.
4. Is there anything about your job that you really don’ t like? It never gets easier when we have to inform great candidates that they were not successful in securing a role. We really care for our candidates and making a rejection call is so tough.
5. Favourite thing about working on Aycliffe Business Park? There is a real sense of belonging to a growing and vibrant business community and geographically it’ s such a great location to do business with the wider region. We love it here.
6. Which company / individual on the park do you do the most work with? Roman is a fantastic client and we have supported their amazing growth by helping with national recruitment for just over three years. They have a great business, fantastic ethics and have been very loyal and supportive of Fleet Recruitment.
7. Who’ s your tip for future success? I think the guys at Pixel Media, based on the business park, are fantastic. Really creative, helpful, competitive and just the nicest guys. Definitely one to watch.
8. Four famous people you’ d love to have round for dinner and why? Billy Connelly, because he is a comedic genius. Arnold Schwarzenegger, because he has achieved so many things and would be fascinating. Rick Stein because I love his laid back personality and he might help me prepare the food. Lastly, Robert De Niro just because he’ s a legend.
9. If you could do something else in business, what would it be? I spot potential opportunities all the time but right now I can’ t imagine doing anything else.
10. Who’ s your favourite Tweeter? I don’ t have a favourite, but I follow a lot of great comedians.
11. Have you ever done anything really daring? Lots of things in the RAF including standing at the very end of the open tail ramp of a Hercules aircraft whilst it flew just a few hundred feet in the air at an airshow. My colleague Jim and I were stood right at the end waving to the crowds on the beach below. But the scariest by far was taking the step into self employment. Even more so for my wife Lisa who had to trust that I could make it work. She has been amazing.
12. What’ s the best piece of business advice you’ ve been given? I have a great friend and mentor who is a very senior industry accountant and business leader. He helps me sense check my strategy, planning, finance and yearly business targets. Whilst sat at a spreadsheet looking at projections he once said to me:“ Neil, only you know if you’ re fooling yourself.” It really stuck and when you’ re ever the optimist like me, it’ s easy to become a spreadsheet millionaire.
13. If money was no object, what would be your ideal car? I am probably the worst person to ask. I’ ve never been interested in having an expensive car, so cheap and cheerful works for me.
14. Money no object, your dream holiday would be? If money was no object it would be a permanent holiday in Tenerife. I love the climate and the cool breeze.
15. Do you have a favourite band or type of music? I love REM, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Madness and loads of other great bands. But at heart I do love rock music. I played lead guitar professionally in a live band for 14 years and love music.
16. What is your greatest achievement? Apart from being a husband and Father to two amazing kids it’ s riding my bike from coast to coast in one day. I’ m hoping to top that this June with a 230-mile bike ride for charity in one day.
17. How would you best describe yourself in four words? Driven, Personable, Disciplined and Honest.
18. Where do you see yourself in five years? Continuing to manage and grow the Fleet Recruitment and Deliberately Different businesses.
19. Who’ s the most famous person you’ ve ever met? Princess Diana, whilst working at RAF Northolt.
20. Do you have any guilty pleasures? You might want to boil the kettle again...
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 31
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1. What do you do? I am managing director of Fleet Recruitment and spend my time making sure that the business delivers a great service to clients, achieves targets, spots opportunities and remains compliant. I am also the managing director of Deliberately Different, a business support organisation that provides networking, training, mentoring and coaching.
2. Who have you worked for in the past? I spent my early years in the RAF Police and went into a sales career in 1999, mostly in the vehicle leasing and management industry and latterly as Sales Director of a large national training provider.
3. Best part of your job? It’ s a great feeling to head up a business that you started from scratch and I still get excited driving into the office every day. Without a doubt it’ s knowing that we have a great reputation and that means I am doing a good job in terms of managing our standards and delivering growth.
4. Is there anything about your job that you really don’ t like? It never gets easier when we have to inform great candidates that they were not successful in securing a role. We really care for our candidates and making a rejection call is so tough.
5. Favourite thing about working on Aycliffe Business Park? There is a real sense of belonging to a growing and vibrant business community and geographically it’ s such a great location to do business with the wider region. We love it here.
6. Which company / individual on the park do you do the most work with? Roman is a fantastic client and we have supported their amazing growth by helping with national recruitment for just over three years. They have a great business, fantastic ethics and have been very loyal and supportive of Fleet Recruitment.
7. Who’ s your tip for future success? I think the guys at Pixel Media, based on the business park, are fantastic. Really creative, helpful, competitive and just the nicest guys. Definitely one to watch.
8. Four famous people you’ d love to have round for dinner and why? Billy Connelly, because he is a comedic genius. Arnold Schwarzenegger, because he has achieved so many things and would be fascinating. Rick Stein because I love his laid back personality and he might help me prepare the food. Lastly, Robert De Niro just because he’ s a legend.
9. If you could do something else in business, what would it be? I spot potential opportunities all the time but right now I can’ t imagine doing anything else.
15.
10. Who’ s your favourite Tweeter? I don’ t have a favourite, but I follow a lot of great comedians.
11. Have you ever done anything really daring? Lots of things in the RAF including standing at the very end of the open tail ramp of a Hercules aircraft whilst it flew just a few hundred feet in the air at an airshow. My colleague Jim and I were stood right at the end waving to the crowds on the beach below. But the scariest by far was taking the step into self employment. Even more so for my wife Lisa who had to trust that I could make it work. She has been amazing.
12. What’ s the best piece of business advice you’ ve been given? I have a great friend and mentor who is a very senior industry accountant and business leader. He helps me sense check my strategy, planning, finance and yearly business targets. Whilst sat at a spreadsheet looking at projections he once said to me:“ Neil, only you know if you’ re fooling yourself.” It really stuck and when you’ re ever the optimist like me, it’ s easy to become a spreadsheet millionaire.
13. If money was no object, what would be your ideal car? I am probably the worst person to ask. I’ ve never been interested in having an expensive car, so cheap and cheerful works for me.
14. Money no object, your dream holiday would be? If money was no object it would be a permanent holiday in Tenerife. I love the climate and the cool breeze.
15. Do you have a favourite band or type of music? I love REM, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Madness and loads of other great bands. But at heart I do love rock music. I played lead guitar professionally in a live band for 14 years and love music.
16. What is your greatest achievement? Apart from being a husband and Father to two amazing kids it’ s riding my bike from coast to coast in one day. I’ m hoping to top that this June with a 230-mile bike ride for charity in one day.
17. How would you best describe yourself in four words? Driven, Personable, Disciplined and Honest.
18. Where do you see yourself in five years? Continuing to manage and grow the Fleet Recruitment and Deliberately Different businesses.
19. Who’ s the most famous person you’ ve ever met? Princess Diana, whilst working at RAF Northolt.
20. Do you have any guilty pleasures? You might want to boil the kettle again...