Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 41 | Page 33

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 33
8.
1.

What do you do?
I solve problems for businesses
using technology but as a business
I translate customers language into
technical language and tame a bunch of
“techies” who reside in my Zoo.
2. Who have you worked for in the

13.
past?
Well, I started my career here on the
park 37 years ago when I started at
GEC, I progressed from there to their
computer systems supplier Northgate
Information Systems and from there to
become the “Vice President of Happy
Customers” for a software company in
London before taking over the reins at
Excelpoint.
brewery, and I say exclusive because
you need a security code to get to their
unit which is a spit and sawdust design
but is always busy and full of friendly
people with real networking taking
place – ie talking. Nick’s business is
going from strength to strength and I
would tip him for success.
8.

3. Best part of your job?

4.

5.

Creating answers to complex problems
and seeing the difference this makes
for our customers is very rewarding,
but the freedom running my own
business gives me is freedom to
provide software by a method that
our customers can relate to and
understand.
Is there anything about your job that
you really don’t like?
Mainly people, but not all of them, just
a minority – but isn’t that just life all
over?
Favourite thing about working on
Aycliffe Business Park?
The park has a real sense of community
and a vibrant buzz around the regular
breakfast meetings. The support that
businesses offer each other by way
of advice, shared experiences, joint
initiatives and trading is second to none
and helps to inspire other businesses
on the park – this can only be a good
thing for everyone.
9.

7.

Gair Maxwell is a great business leader
and offers many insights and golden
nuggets across all of the social media
platforms.
11. Have you ever done anything really

park do you do the most work with?
Ironically most of our business is UK
wide or international, not specifically
focussed on the business park, but we
do work with Ebac and the Xcel Centre.
Who’s your tip for future success?
There is a local business on the park
called the “Steam Machine”. If you are a
resident of the park get on down there
and see Nick for recommendations.
Steam machine is an exclusive micro-
If you could do something else in
business, what would it be?
Something with a much simpler
business model as software is a
complex proposition and requires
absolute commitment and permanent
learning and self-education just to
keep up to date – to stay ahead is a
challenge.
10. Who’s your favourite Tweeter?
6. Which company/individual on the

Four famous people you’d love to
have round for dinner and why?
Well I’m tempted to say Mick, Keith,
Charlie and Ronnie but I would have to
refine this and say Mick Jagger, Steve
Jobs, Marilyn Monroe, and Andrew
Muckley. Mick Jagger because I have
been a lifelong Rolling Stones fan,
Steve Jobs as I feel I may have a lot to
learn from him, Marilyn because she
had to be one of the sexiest sirens of
the silver screen era (and may have
many stories to tell) and lastly Andrew
Muckley as he was a world leading
psychologist in his field and happened
to be a good friend of mine but sadly is
no longer with us.
daring?
Earlier in life I had plenty of
experiences in winter exploration
that were probably quite daring even
though I didn’t think so at the time.
However, stepping into the passenger
seat of a powerful and capable off-road
vehicle in the Greek mountains with
sheer drops, boulders and waterfalls
involved whilst piloted by my 21-year-
old son was not only daring but
absolutely petrifying.
12. What’s the best piece of business

advice you’ve been given?
Business is simple, understand what
19.
the customer needs and deliver this at
a price they want in a timeframe that
impresses – it’s that simple – you’ll be
successful.
13. If money was no object, what would

be your ideal car?
A red Ferrari would feature although
probably not for the long term – just to
get it out of the system so-to-speak.
14. Money no object, your dream holiday

would be?
A world cruise would go down well.
15. Do you have a favourite band or type

of music?
I might have mentioned earlier that I am
huge fan of the Rolling Stones although
I like all sorts of music.
16. What is your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement is without
doubt landing the woman of my dreams
and then together bringing up three
boys, compared to raising children
everything else is easy.
17. How would you best describe

yourself in four words?
Honest, Focussed, Committed,
Optimistic.
18. Where do you see yourself in five

years?
In five years’ time the business will
have grown to a level where much
cleverer people than me will be the
senior leadership team, and I will only
have a cameo role to play.
19. Who’s the most famous person

you’ve ever met?
Robert De Niro and I enjoyed an
evening of drinks and discussion one
night in a hotel bar in a quintessentially
English village called Aldbury St John.
As a matter of fact, I met a few famous
people there.
20. Do you have any guilty pleasures?

I have many pleasures but I don’t feel
guilty about any of them – I feel more
guilty about the pleasures I don’t enjoy
often enough not least fresh air and
exercise, walking in the mountains or
on the beach.