Mick Stewart, Operations Director at SupaLite
FACTS AND FIGURES First job: I was brought up in a village dominated by the cotton industry. As this declined in the 60’s/70’s, all mills were taken over by a furniture company supplying major superstores. I joined as an apprentice upholsterer straight from school. Eventually, my career evolved into management where I became responsible for all More...
Gary Thorn, owner and Managing Director of Cube Glass
FACTS AND FIGURES First job: I borrowed £100 from my dad to buy my first paper round when I was 12. A year later, I had bought another two. My first “proper” job was as a trainee building surveyor with the More...
Tony Basile, Sales Director for Sheerline
Facts and Figures: First job: Trainee butcher at Rydes in Derby. I didn’t enjoy the butchery side of it, but I loved working on the counter and meeting customers. When did you join Sheerline: I started working More...
Jason Bamford, Managing Director of Regal Aluminium
Fact and Figures: First job: Regal Conservatories, from 1989 – 1998. When did you join or set up current company: I set up Regal Doors Limited in 2013. I set up Regal Aluminium in May 2023 when I bought Sapient More...
Jamie Munday, Sales Director for Avantek Machinery
Facts and Figures: First job: Compressed air fitter/engineer at Tool Repair Services. I learned a huge amount about repairing and selling pneumatic tools, while meeting lots of people in the tooling industry. When More...
Chris Reeks, Managing Director of Fentrade
Facts and Figures: First job: My first full-time position was a trainee purchaser for a Caterpillar replacement spares company. Set up current company: August 2018 Favourite Gadget: Apple watch Favourite/most More...
Nick Cooper, Technical Director, AluK
Facts and Figures: First job: I was an apprentice for six years at Jonwindows, a subsidiary of Cardiff’s John Williams steel group. Established in 1881, by the time I started, they’d already been fabricating More...
Dr Sachin Saigal, Managing Director, Avocet Hardware Group
Facts and Figures: First Job: Resident doctor Most useful/favourite gadget: My phone, although it can also be my worst enemy! Favourite Website: Financial Times Favourite restaurant: More...
Steve Winslet, Managing Director of Victorian Sliders
Facts and Figures: First job: I started as Pioneer Concrete’s youngest trainee Plant Manager in London. Following several promotions, I was appointed to manage the Byfleet Plant, one of their biggest sites More...
Rhonda Ridge, Managing Director of Ab Initio Systems
Facts and Figures: First Job: Joined NatWest Bank straight from school. When did you set up current company: 1995 Most useful gadget: I couldn’t live without an iPhone Most useful websites: More...