Serving the Teesside Business Community | 11
RISK ISN’ T A SCARY THING, RISK EQUALS OPPORTUNITY.
Four words to describe me are … dedicated, passionate, honest and … the most polite way I can put it is different.
My business mantra is … great people equals great business. Business can be a product or a service and can be other people with the same product and service but the key difference is the people within it. If you get the wrong people in your business then you’ re doomed to fail. Getting the right people means it becomes so much easier. Midas has that in spades, it’ s what our whole business is based on. We recruit great people, not necessarily people experienced in this industry.
My greatest achievement was … getting my MBA – Master in Business Administration- at Teesside University. At 25, I was officially too young to go on the course but I forced my way on. It was a huge challenge because I was never very academic but I was hugely passionate about it. To get through it was very rewarding.
The advice I’ d give to business start-ups is … don’ t be adverse to risk. Risk isn’ t a scary thing, risk equals opportunity. Also be the hardest working person in the room and ask for advice.
The biggest character on the Tees business scene is … Steve Gibson. He’ s our neighbour, as Midas is right next to Bulkhaul, but who is there better to look up to? Having been a Boro fan all my life, he has always been part of my consciousness. He’ s always been a bit of a role model, but when you realise what his background is and what he’ s achieved then he’ s got to be an inspiration to anyone on Teesside. He has created so much wealth- and he backs the Boro!
The individual who is my tip for the top among Tees businesses is … probably James Dale of Anderson Barrowcliff. He is the youngest partner they’ ve ever had. He has drive, ambition, intelligence and he breeds confidence. He wants other businesses to succeed and I’ m certain he will be influential on other Teesside businesses. But I’ d also mention the many 30-somethings who are committed to Teesside – people like Cathal Doocey at CPD Bodies, Lee Bramley at the Endeavour Partnership, Karl Pemberton at Active Financial and Paul Davison at Erimus Insurance Brokers.
Teesside’ s a great place for business because … of its people and Teesside University. The culture that those two create within the business fraternity will be the catalyst to success. We create in Teesside people who can adapt to different scenarios, knuckle down and crack on.
My biggest frustration about Teesside is … the people who get hung up with the negatives. The mentality of“ This is how it’ s always been. There are no opportunities. We can’ t get a job.” There’ s a big gulf between the doers and those who won’ t.
My favourite local charity is … Daisy Chain – the people there do an amazing job for a charity that’ s slightly under the radar, but they do it with care and compassion. When I visit, everyone always has a smile on their face.
When I’ m not working, I like to spend my time … doing whatever as long as I’ m having laughs with my family and friends. I also love a wide range of music, sometimes to destress I like to listen to a bit of heavy metal very loud!
The best holiday I ever had was … my honeymoon. We just jumped in a car to the South of France and went on a bit of an unplanned tour. There was a real sense of freedom. I want to do it again – but not the honeymoon!
Not many people know this about me but … I tried to row the Atlantic. It was in about 2005, and me and my father-in-law were inspired by four Teesside guys who’ d already done something similar but our plan was to become the first people to cross the Atlantic from Canada to England. We had the boat and sponsors in place but it was an inescapable fact that we would face life-threatening situations. Eventually, the pressure on the family became too much.
In retirement, I’ ll spend my time … travelling and helping other businesses. I’ d like to see a bit of the world but hopefully I’ ll have some nuggets of wisdom to pass on to future business leaders.