PROFILE
“ Build a strong team : surround yourself with people who complement your skills and bring unique perspectives and strengths to the table .”
The biggest character on the Tees business scene is … I ’ m still in my first year on my return to Teesside , and I ’ ve been delighted to find how welcoming the business community is . I ’ ve met some inspirational people so it ’ s hard to say , but I ’ ll tell you that I really admire what Sharon Lane has achieved and is doing at Tees Components . Not only are the engineering briefs awesome , her concern with training and culture stands out , and her commentary on skills defines her leadership .
My favourite local charity is … The Teesside Charity - a ‘ can do ’ charity , helping Teessiders for over 10 years .
When I ’ m not working , I like to spend my time … Running , drumming , and playing guitar . My daughter is seven and loves learning drums .
Teesside ’ s a great place for business because … I can ’ t think of a more important place for a group of colleges to be . Education Training Collective is all about fuelling ambition and driving success in a resurgent Teesside . I ’ m passionate and optimistic about the potential for our region , and if Teesside becomes the cradle of the UK ’ s renewable energy industries – which I ’ m confident it ’ s poised to do – that and the supply chain that will follow will be transformative for the area . Our job is to make sure local young people and those retraining benefit from the opportunities on their way from inward investment .
My biggest frustration about Teesside is … The lack of infrastructure that you generally find in city regions of comparable population sizes , by which I mean things like an integrated transport system . That said , the people of Teesside have such incredible optimism and character , and there ’ s always a belief that things will improve . I do think we could be looking at a boom time for our area in the coming years .
My guilty pleasures are … Super-hot curries and Polish beers .
The best holiday I ever had was … To Costa Rica . It was amazing to experience the cloud forest , see a flock of red macaws and zip-wire across the forest canopy .
Not many people know this about me but … I ’ ve been learning Czech for 27 years and speak it with my wife , who ’ s originally from the Czech Republic , and now daughter , who has online classes once a week .
In retirement , I ’ ll spend my time … Walking the fells , listening to history podcasts .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 55