PROFILE
PICTURE BY LEE DOBSON
“Engage with
people in a
respectful way
and never forget
that our aim and
purpose is to
help.”
Teesside’s a great place for business because…there is
a lot of support here – organisations, advisers, mentors,
workforce. It is good to see the headlines about Teesside
are now more about the area’s positives, impressive
projects, successes and plans for the future.
My biggest frustration about Teesside is…the A19, but
I know that the decision-makers have it in their sights to
make improvements and I recognise it is no easy task!
My favourite local charity is…I can’t choose! Until I saw
the projects being helped by our Community Support
Fund, from the Prince’s Trust to the Junction Foundation
and community centres, I had no idea so much amazing
work was going on and with so many volunteers involved
too. The UKSE team and the 80-plus businesses at our
two Innovation Centres also fundraise for charities, from
the Hartlepool Food Bank to Macmillan Cancer Support.
My guilty pleasures are….Magnum ice lollies, a good
measure of Brockmans gin with ginger ale and any TV
viewing of Rupert Penry-Jones!
The best holiday I ever had was…there is something
irresistibly calming about the shores of Loch Ness.
Not many people know this about me but…I’m a forces
child and spent much of my childhood in West Germany.
My father was a helicopter pilot so I remember weekends
in aircraft hangars and the occasional excitement of being
airborne.
In retirement, I’ll spend my time…that seems quite a way
off. But I hope it’s close to family and friends – perhaps
the friends who can be a bad influence when it comes to
tipples and chocolate or an adventurous trip will really
come into their own!
When I’m not working, I like to spend my time…exploring
the Northumberland coastline and castles or discovering
traditional village pubs.
The voice of business in the Tees region | 47