1. What do you do? Along with my brother( David) we own and operate OneGym Fitness. This currently comprises of facilities in Aycliffe on the business park, Bishop Auckland, Redcar and soon to be a new one in Ingleby Barwick. OneGym offer state-of-the-art fitness facilities and aerobic classes at a very affordable price.
2. Who have you worked for in the past? I’ ve worked for a number of people in both the public sector and the private sector, however the most well known is probably Duncan Bannatyne.
3. Best part of your job? Having always worked in the leisure industry, I have experienced most aspects from reception, sales, admin, instructing, management, technical and more and I can sincerely say that working with people and meeting the members is by far the best part of the job.
4. Is there anything about your job that you really don’ t like? I don’ t like it when I feel as though we aren’ t offering the best we can for members and that may be because equipment may be broken or we are going through staff changes so classes( as an example) may not be as good as they could be while the new staff are training.
5. Favourite thing about working on Aycliffe Business Park? The members we get from local businesses etc are generally all really nice. We offer corporate deals to anyone who works on the park.
6. Which company / individual on the park do you do the most work with? Due to the nature of the business we don’ t tend to work with any one business.
7. Who’ s your tip for future success? I don’ t feel as though I know enough about what other businesses are doing to be able to answer this.
8. Four famous people you’ d love to have round for dinner and why? Richard Branson so I could pick his brain regarding business; Stephen Fry because I like his intellect and tend to agree with his outlook on most issues; Little Mix, purely because my daughter is a fan and nothing to do with their looks; and Ronaldo or Lionel Messi – because my son is a big fan of them both.
9. If you could do something else in business, what would it be? We have just ventured in to a new area of business by opening Number One Classic Bar a & Coffee House in Darlington, and it’ s so far so good. I’ m enjoying the diversity and learning new things.
10. Who’ s your favourite Tweeter? The businesses are on Twitter but personally I don’ t Tweet I’ m afraid.
11. Have you ever done anything really daring? With a family to support does it get any more daring than putting your mortgage on the line when starting a business?
12. What’ s the best piece of business advice you’ ve been given? Lend as much money as you possibly can – Duncan Bannatyne and my dad’ s often over-cautious attitude has helped.
13. If money was no object, what would be your ideal car? I’ ve never really enjoyed or want to be centre of attention so it would never be anything too“ flash”. A range rover sport would be nice.
14. Money no object, your dream holiday would be? Not necessarily mine but as I couldn’ t go anywhere without the kids right now( they’ re nine and seven), so I’ d have to say Florida.
15. Do you have a favourite band or type of music? I like most types of music and listen to several depending on my mood. Although I’ d never have invited the guy for dinner, I’ ve always viewed Michael Jackson as the number one all-round entertainer.
16. What is your greatest achievement? My children.
17. How would you best describe yourself in four words? Focused, determined, friendly and occasionally moody!
18. Where do you see yourself in five years? Retired! No seriously, I don’ t know. At the moment we are enjoying doing what we are doing.
19. Who’ s the most famous person you’ ve ever met? I met Mike Tyson is Las Vegas.
20. Do you have any guilty pleasures? I’ m totally and utterly addicted to chocolate. I’ m not even ashamed to tell you that I can easily eat up to 10 bars in a day. This is one of the main reasons I work out!
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 31
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1. What do you do? Along with my brother( David) we own and operate OneGym Fitness. This currently comprises of facilities in Aycliffe on the business park, Bishop Auckland, Redcar and soon to be a new one in Ingleby Barwick. OneGym offer state-of-the-art fitness facilities and aerobic classes at a very affordable price.
2. Who have you worked for in the past? I’ ve worked for a number of people in both the public sector and the private sector, however the most well known is probably Duncan Bannatyne.
3. Best part of your job? Having always worked in the leisure industry, I have experienced most aspects from reception, sales, admin, instructing, management, technical and more and I can sincerely say that working with people and meeting the members is by far the best part of the job.
4. Is there anything about your job that you really don’ t like? I don’ t like it when I feel as though we aren’ t offering the best we can for members and that may be because equipment may be broken or we are going through staff changes so classes( as an example) may not be as good as they could be while the new staff are training.
8.
5. Favourite thing about working on Aycliffe Business Park? The members we get from local businesses etc are generally all really nice. We offer corporate deals to anyone who works on the park.
6. Which company / individual on the park do you do the most work with? Due to the nature of the business we don’ t tend to work with any one business.
7. Who’ s your tip for future success? I don’ t feel as though I know enough about what other businesses are doing to be able to answer this.
8. Four famous people you’ d love to have round for dinner and why? Richard Branson so I could pick his brain regarding business; Stephen Fry because I like his intellect and tend to agree with his outlook on most issues; Little Mix, purely because my daughter is a fan and nothing to do with their looks; and Ronaldo or Lionel Messi – because my son is a big fan of them both.
9. If you could do something else in business, what would it be? We have just ventured in to a new area of business by opening Number One Classic Bar a & Coffee House in Darlington, and it’ s so far so good. I’ m enjoying the diversity and learning new things.
OneGym offer state-ofthe-art fitness facilities and aerobic classes at a very affordable price.
10. Who’ s your favourite Tweeter? The businesses are on Twitter but personally I don’ t Tweet I’ m afraid.
11. Have you ever done anything really daring? With a family to support does it get any more daring than putting your mortgage on the line when starting a business?
12. What’ s the best piece of business advice you’ ve been given? Lend as much money as you possibly can – Duncan Bannatyne and my dad’ s often over-cautious attitude has helped.
13. If money was no object, what would be your ideal car? I’ ve never really enjoyed or want to be centre of attention so it would never be anything too“ flash”. A range rover sport would be nice.
14. Money no object, your dream holiday would be? Not necessarily mine but as I couldn’ t go anywhere without the kids right now( they’ re nine and seven), so I’ d have to say Florida.
15. Do you have a favourite band or type of music? I like most types of music and listen to several depending on my mood. Although I’ d never have invited the guy for dinner, I’ ve always viewed Michael Jackson as the number one all-round entertainer.
16. What is your greatest achievement? My children.
17. How would you best describe yourself in four words? Focused, determined, friendly and occasionally moody!
18. Where do you see yourself in five years? Retired! No seriously, I don’ t know. At the moment we are enjoying doing what we are doing.
19. Who’ s the most famous person you’ ve ever met? I met Mike Tyson is Las Vegas.
20. Do you have any guilty pleasures? I’ m totally and utterly addicted to chocolate. I’ m not even ashamed to tell you that I can easily eat up to 10 bars in a day. This is one of the main reasons I work out!