You studied international business and Spanish at Sheffield Hallam University, was it worth it?
Yes. I thought I didn’t have the confidence to do a degree, but a tutor thought I was capable. Doing Spanish meant I had a work placement in Madrid, and that year abroad really gave me confidence. What did you do after graduation? I worked for Derbyshire Chamber of Commerce, helping to reinvigorate the city. I had responsibility, but the local government bureaucracy was frustrating. I then worked for the marketing department of the Nottingham Evening Post, and for Dial Direct. Eventually I became MD of Bennetts, the motorcycle insurance provider. It was a niche brand but it was in decline and I turned it around. How did you work your way up? Ambition and a desire to succeed. Who are your heroes? My grandmother, who was born in India, She was very strong and always made the best of things. Have you ever been fired from a job? No. As a teenager I worked for Marks and Spencer in the summer. They said they wouldn’t take me on again because I didn’t smile enough. I’m quite a happy person an
