PROFILE
PICTURE : CHRIS BOOTH
“ Setting up a business isn ’ t for everyone and a lot of sacrifices have to be made along the way .”
Teesside ’ s a great place for business because … of the people ! I ’ ve met some fabulous people over the years , from business owners to job-seekers . The humour , resilience and work ethic is second to none . We still have challenges to overcome , but right now there ’ s never been a better time to do business on Teesside . We ’ re building new sectors such as tech , green energy and business services , while attracting vast amounts of investment from global businesses . Great times ahead !
My biggest frustration about Teesside is … without being political , I wish all parties would pull together for the greater good of the region . There ’ s so much good going on in this region , but the politics are extremely divisive .
My favourite local charity is … having lost my father to suicide in 1988 , I love the work that the Headlight Project is doing . When I was hit with this more than 30 years ago , there was so much stigma surrounding the subject . People kept everything bottled up out of sheer embarrassment . Now , thanks to Headlight , people across our region have somewhere to go to access the support that is much needed .
When I ’ m not working , I like to spend my time … with my two rescue dogs , both of which are a handful and take a lot of work , and watching sport . Up the Boro !
My guilty pleasures are … cake , cake and more cake !
The best holiday I ever had was … without doubt the holidays I had with my kids , mother and stepfather . Sadly , my mother and stepfather are no longer with us , but the memories live on .
Not many people know this about me but … Unfortunately I have no hidden talents . I can ’ t cook or play instruments and I ’ ve not climbed Everest or Kilimanjaro . Hmmm . Perhaps I need to get a life !
In retirement , I ’ ll spend my time … fostering . I ’ m currently winding down from the business and handing the reigns over to my daughter Ashleigh and the wider management team . With this in mind , I ’ m currently going through the fostering process , as it breaks my heart to know there are many children out there without love or the support of positive role models . I know it ’ ll be challenging , but 40 years in recruitment has set me up well !
The voice of business in the Tees region | 71