32 | Aycliffe Today Business
Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 33
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10. Who’s your favourite Tweeter?
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Coffee
BREAK
WE TAKE A BREAK AND SIT DOWN WITH A DIFFERENT
EMPLOYEE OR BUSINESS OWNER TO ASK THEM 20 QUESTIONS
ABOUT A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS...
In this issue, we sit down with Newton Aycliffe-based
consultant Vince Armitage, the former Divisional Vice President
of Spectrum Brands (UK)...
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What do you do?
I took early retirement back in
2013. I was previously Divisional
Vice President for Spectrum Brands
(UK) and was responsible for an
international business unit covering
the world apart from North and South
America.
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Who have you worked
for in the past?
Prior to 31 years at Spectrum Brands I
worked in FMCG for Carnation Foods
and in retail at the Norwest Co-op.
What was the best part of your job?
In the latter years most definitely
mentoring and encouraging others to
develop their full potential.
Was there anything about your job
that you really didn’t like?
Although travelling around the world
was seen as glamorous there were
many horrendous journeys and hotels
(sufficient to write many chapters in a
book).
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Favourite thing about working on
Aycliffe Business Park?
The last time I worked on Aycliffe
Business Park was back in 1993! But
I’m well aware of all the great work
that’s going on here and, thanks to
Aycliffe Today, we’re all made aware of
some of the fantastic new companies
that keep popping up.
Which company/individual on the
park do you do the most work with?
That question currently doesn’t apply
to me, although I would like to work
with more companies that are on my
doorstep. I live in Newton Aycliffe and
I’m currently working as a freelance
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consultant with some clients outside
of the region, so it would be nice to
work with clients closer to home.
Who’s your tip for future success?
It’s abundantly clear there are a lot of
big companies all doing very well on
Aycliffe Business Park, and a lot of upand-coming names who will be stars of
tomorrow. But one stand-out company
for me is Tekmar Energy – they won
the Export award at the North East
Business Awards earlier this year, after
winning Company of the Year at the
Aycliffe Business Park Make Your Mark
Awards last year. I know what it takes
to achieve this having successfully
won back-to-back Queens Awards
for Enterprise in both Export and
Innovation. I’m sure we will see more
awards heading their way in the very
near future.
Four famous people you’d love to
have round for dinner and why?
Henry V, a warrior King of England
who led from the front. What was his
driving force? Empress Dowager Xing,
arguably the greatest woman leader,
ran an empire and started China on a
path to modernity. She took a number
of risks, were they calculated or was
luck on her side? Winston Churchill,
another who was a great leader, terrific
rhetoric and wit. Finally Lee Kwan Yew
who took Singapore from a tiny Nation
to an ultra-modern successful state
with diverse cultures. What a colourful
table of characters!
If you could do something else in
business, what would it be?
Wine, cheese or beer production...
loves and passion, a perfect
combination.
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Right now James Corden
Have you ever done anything really
daring?
Most of my daring episodes happened
around a dining table… green hairy
crabs (in season of course), goose feet,
jelly fish, snake and likely many other
dishes that were incorrectly translated.
What’s the best piece of business
advice you’ve been given?
Being told to read “What they don’t
teach you at Harvard Business School”,
by Mark McCormack.vv
If money was no object, what would
be your ideal car?
Aston Martin Vanquish.
Money no object, your dream
holiday would be?
A three-month tour of Asia taking in
Vietnam, Hong Kong, Singapore and a
variety of cities in China and turning
left as you enter each aircraft…
Do you have a favourite band
or type of music?
In my youth it was Soul, R&B,
nowadays I’m quite happy with Simply
Red, Buble and of course a little
Motown.
What is your greatest achievement?
My family apart, opening new
markets around the world, attaining
and maintaining a world number
one position against much bigger
corporations.
How would you best describe
yourself in four words?
Resourceful, perceptive, adaptable and
determined.
18. Where do you see yourself
in five years?
Hopefully working with more clients
on Aycliffe Business Park. Promoting
British manufacturing and securing
trade and jobs is prerequisite for the
future of any company, and is a passion
of mine. Being passive is not an option;
others will ‘eat your lunch’ unless
you are proactive. I believe that I can
contribute to all SME’s looking to grow,
reorganise and become more efficient
and profitable. The vast majority of
consultants will borrow your watch and
then tell you the time. I always bring
my own watch.
19. Who’s the most famous person
you’ve ever met?
The Queen.
20. Do you have any guilty pleasures?
Chablis Premier Cru.