1 . What do you do ? In a nutshell , we at Pixel Media help businesses stand out online and in the market place . We do this through the medium of graphic design , social media management and website design .
2 . Who have you worked for in the past ? I started working at Sellafield in engineering . I was then handpicked by the directors of Thorn Lighting to aid the transfer of manufacturing lines from Germany to the UK . I left Thorn to become a house husband and look after my growing family . During this time I worked at Tesco and was active within the community , helping in a number of toddler & youth groups . This is where I met Graham , my business partner in Pixel Media and creative driving force within the business . I studied at Durham University gaining honours in primary education specialising in IT .
3 . Best part of your job ? I love helping business owners make their businesses look amazing . It is a real buzz to see the difference our work can make .
4 . Is there anything about your job that you really don ’ t like ? Business is interesting and everything you do makes a difference in some way or another . I love to see a difference being made . I don ’ t like it when something is not effective . It happens in business because you are always trying new things and pushing open new doors .
5 . Favourite thing about working on Aycliffe Business Park ? The potential of Aycliffe Business Park is exciting . There are so many potential clients and a real community feel . Most businesses are open to a discussion based on the fact that you are local . There are always links between the people of the park and many I already know from past employment , school and generally living in Aycliffe my whole life .
6 . Which company / individual on the park do you do the most work with ? We work in collaboration with many businesses on the park and too
7 . Who ’ s your tip for future success ? Deliberately Different is potentially an incredible venture to businesses on the business park . Although very community focussed , I think Deliberately Different will break the mould and make a huge impact in the area .
8 . Four famous people you ’ d love to have round for dinner and why ? Professor Brian Cox , Mo Gawat , Richard Branson and Gazza . What a mix ! Dinner just wouldn ’ t be enough . I would literally be sat listening to the top guys in their field chewing the meat with Gazza mixing it up with his banter .
9 . If you could do something else in business , what would it be ? Let ’ s get this one running at full tilt first ! My real aim is to become a hub for business help and support . Maybe one day I will have a business in the south of Spain giving banana boat rides on speed boats . I can see me doing that !
10 . Who ’ s your favourite Tweeter ? I love hearing from all the guys that I would like round for dinner . Gary Vee is also a Tweeter I love to follow – full of inspiration and energy .
11 . Have you ever done anything really daring ? Baz Lurmann , Everybody Wear Sunscreen is one of my favourite songs . I have the lyrics framed on my wall at home . He says ‘ Do something every day that scares you ’, and I always try to live outside my comfort zone . It drives my wife crazy !
12 . What ’ s the best piece of business advice you ’ ve been given ? Keep going ! I hear it a lot from successful business owners . To expand a little , vision is key to any business . If you are in two minds as to keep going or not , your vision is lost .
13 . If money was no object , what would be your ideal car ? I love cars ! All my children are named after cars or rally drivers . We considered having another child just so I could call him Mcrae ! To me , it ’ s like asking what your favourite song is . There is a one for every situation . Since I have to name one , I ’ m going with a Ford RS200 .
14 . Money no object , your dream holiday would be ? It ’ s not where you go , it ’ s who you take . I would take my whole family in a small mediterranean village type place and have it all paid for , for everyone .
15 . Do you have a favourite band or type of music ? I love all kinds of music and there is a song for every moment in life . I do tend to come back to dance and trance type music when I ’ m driving around .
16 . What is your greatest achievement ? I am very proud of my children and how they are growing up . As I was a house husband , I feel that the time I put in early on has helped shape them and our relationship .
17 . How would you best describe yourself in four words ? Risible , Honest , Fair and Loyal . I know you ’ re all Googling risible now aren ’ t you ?
18 . Where do you see yourself in five years ? I see myself as the head of a successful design and marketing business which lives by the values that it began with .
19 . Who ’ s the most famous person you ’ ve ever met ? My middle name is Hannu after Hannu Mikkola , the world rally driver . I met him in his team unit during services at Newcastle many years ago while I was spectating the RAC Rally .
20 . Do you have any guilty pleasures ? Not sure if it is a guilty pleasure , but I love Ace Ventura . I pretty much know the film word for word . It ’ s a little out there .
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 31
13 .
8 . 20 .
1 . What do you do ? In a nutshell , we at Pixel Media help businesses stand out online and in the market place . We do this through the medium of graphic design , social media management and website design .
2 . Who have you worked for in the past ? I started working at Sellafield in engineering . I was then handpicked by the directors of Thorn Lighting to aid the transfer of manufacturing lines from Germany to the UK . I left Thorn to become a house husband and look after my growing family . During this time I worked at Tesco and was active within the community , helping in a number of toddler & youth groups . This is where I met Graham , my business partner in Pixel Media and creative driving force within the business . I studied at Durham University gaining honours in primary education specialising in IT .
3 . Best part of your job ? I love helping business owners make their businesses look amazing . It is a real buzz to see the difference our work can make .
4 . Is there anything about your job that you really don ’ t like ? Business is interesting and everything you do makes a difference in some way or another . I love to see a difference being made . I don ’ t like it when something is not effective . It happens in business because you are always trying new things and pushing open new doors .
5 . Favourite thing about working on Aycliffe Business Park ? The potential of Aycliffe Business Park is exciting . There are so many potential clients and a real community feel . Most businesses are open to a discussion based on the fact that you are local . There are always links between the people of the park and many I already know from past employment , school and generally living in Aycliffe my whole life .
6 . Which company / individual on the park do you do the most work with ? We work in collaboration with many businesses on the park and too
many to name here . One of our key customers is Cornforth Industrial Services , a great team to work with . We also work closely with Aycliffe Workwear Supplies , Fleet Recruitment , Horizon Projects and Capture Films .
7 . Who ’ s your tip for future success ? Deliberately Different is potentially an incredible venture to businesses on the business park . Although very community focussed , I think Deliberately Different will break the mould and make a huge impact in the area .
8 . Four famous people you ’ d love to have round for dinner and why ? Professor Brian Cox , Mo Gawat , Richard Branson and Gazza . What a mix ! Dinner just wouldn ’ t be enough . I would literally be sat listening to the top guys in their field chewing the meat with Gazza mixing it up with his banter .
9 . If you could do something else in business , what would it be ? Let ’ s get this one running at full tilt first ! My real aim is to become a hub for business help and support . Maybe one day I will have a business in the south of Spain giving banana boat rides on speed boats . I can see me doing that !
10 . Who ’ s your favourite Tweeter ? I love hearing from all the guys that I would like round for dinner . Gary Vee is also a Tweeter I love to follow – full of inspiration and energy .
11 . Have you ever done anything really daring ? Baz Lurmann , Everybody Wear Sunscreen is one of my favourite songs . I have the lyrics framed on my wall at home . He says ‘ Do something every day that scares you ’, and I always try to live outside my comfort zone . It drives my wife crazy !
12 . What ’ s the best piece of business advice you ’ ve been given ? Keep going ! I hear it a lot from successful business owners . To expand a little , vision is key to any business . If you are in two minds as to keep going or not , your vision is lost .
13 . If money was no object , what would be your ideal car ? I love cars ! All my children are named after cars or rally drivers . We considered having another child just so I could call him Mcrae ! To me , it ’ s like asking what your favourite song is . There is a one for every situation . Since I have to name one , I ’ m going with a Ford RS200 .
14 . Money no object , your dream holiday would be ? It ’ s not where you go , it ’ s who you take . I would take my whole family in a small mediterranean village type place and have it all paid for , for everyone .
15 . Do you have a favourite band or type of music ? I love all kinds of music and there is a song for every moment in life . I do tend to come back to dance and trance type music when I ’ m driving around .
16 . What is your greatest achievement ? I am very proud of my children and how they are growing up . As I was a house husband , I feel that the time I put in early on has helped shape them and our relationship .
17 . How would you best describe yourself in four words ? Risible , Honest , Fair and Loyal . I know you ’ re all Googling risible now aren ’ t you ?
18 . Where do you see yourself in five years ? I see myself as the head of a successful design and marketing business which lives by the values that it began with .
19 . Who ’ s the most famous person you ’ ve ever met ? My middle name is Hannu after Hannu Mikkola , the world rally driver . I met him in his team unit during services at Newcastle many years ago while I was spectating the RAC Rally .
20 . Do you have any guilty pleasures ? Not sure if it is a guilty pleasure , but I love Ace Ventura . I pretty much know the film word for word . It ’ s a little out there .