PROFILE
TEES UP !
Name : Age : 43 Born : Lives :
Ben Robinson
Stockton-on-Tees Billingham
Organisation ( s ) & Job title ( s ): Principal , Bede Sixth Form College
When I was at school , I wanted to be … like a lot of my friends at the time , a professional sportsperson . It didn ’ t quite happen , though i did play basketball at a semi-professional level at one point .
The advice I would give my 18-year-old self is … make sure you take every opportunity that you can to give yourself the best chance of success . There are so many opportunities out there , so many people willing to give up their time , you just need to be proactive in making it happen .
If I could change one thing about myself it would be … sometimes , impatience . So the people around me tell me , anyway !
Four words to describe me are … friendly , driven , enthusiastic , caring .
I ’ m at my most productive when … I have a clear vision of what I would like to achieve . I need a firm objective to aim for and then use that to shape plans to achieve that goal .
My business mantra is … don ’ t be afraid to swim against the tide if you think it ’ s the right thing to do .
The phrase I use too much is … obviously – even when it ’ s clearly not obvious !
I ’ d describe my work dress code as … smart , I hope . It ’ s all about setting an example , isn ’ t it ?
The Tees region ’ s a great place for business because … there are so many new opportunities here professionally , socially , educationally . I think this is a really exciting time for the region .
My biggest frustration about the Tees region is … people underselling their skills and potential . As a region we are too modest , and that is something we need to stop .
One thing I ’ m better at than most people is … golf – but I know it frustrates those I play with , so I don ’ t talk about it too much .
One thing I ’ m worse at than most people is … DIY – my wife will provide testimony to that .
When I ’ m not working , I like to spend my time … with my family and children , and then golf …
The one thing I say I ’ ll do but never will is … yoga . I like the idea but time is precious and other things push it to the bottom of the list .
My guilty pleasures are … Chinese food and crime dramas .
When I ’ m stressed about work , I … go to the gym , it ’ s a great pressure buster .
Not many people know this about me but … my grandfather ( Bobby Baxter ) captained Middlesbrough Football Club and was a Scottish international . Also , I was in the Guinness Book of Records when I was eight years old for being the youngest person to score a hole in one on the golf course !
80 | Tees Business