Director
Describe yourself briefly:
I am a straight forward talking guy who left school at 16 and has worked hard ever since.I don’t suffer fools but admire anyone who works hard and is self-made

Proudest thing you have done in your life:
Bought a failing football club and took it to the Premier League – glad I sold it though !, second only to bringing up my children to be level headed and who also work hard

What is your passion?:
Other than my wife (I have to say that), I absolutely love work and being creative and hopefully coming up with new ideas. Other than that – cars!

The person you most admire:
My parents, my wife and Di McEvoy- Robinson

Favourite Sports Team:
Derby County FC and I have to say Derbyshire Cricket Club now we sponsor them

Favourite Book:
Any autobiography but no fiction

What do you do to relax?:
I mow the lawns and come up with new ideas for the business and other businesses – also love to visit new places

An unusual fact about you:
I have an intolerance to wine – well when it has the cork on!

Director
Describe yourself briefly:
Bossy, fun loving Scouser who is prepared to roll my sleeves up and do anything required to succeed. I expect the best from everyone and everything and hate to be disappointed!

Proudest thing you have done in your life:
Jointly parented two gorgeous boys to adulthood (with my amazing husband Patrick) I am also very proud of having the courage to give up a great salary, pension and other benefits to follow my dream of being an entrepreneur and setting up a company from scratch, despite having no income for a while and still having bills to pay!

What is your passion?: As an ex teacher who still misses teaching - I am passionate about outstanding teaching and learning. I have seen how superb teachers and trainers can change lives and inspire people to follow their own dreams. I also adore experiences of all kinds!

The person you most admire:
I have a few people I’d like to mention:
Dead - Nelson Mandela, my grandparents for believing in me and finally agreeing after much persuasion and tantrums from me – to not making me go to elocution lessons to get rid of my Scouse accent (it is part of me!).

Alive – Malala Yousafzai – for her courage in fighting for the rights of girls to be educated across the World, my husband and sons – just for being so much fun and Pete Marples for being crazy and encouraging me to be the same!

Favourite Book:
To Kill A Mocking Bird by Harper Lee. The messages about fairness, humanity and humility always make me cry and I love the fact that a girl called Scout is the lead character.

What do you do to relax?:
Visit Art galleries, travel to as many different places as possible, try different foods and drink nice wine.

An unusual fact about you:
I have a gold medal in ballroom dancing from the age of 8!

Operations Director
Describe yourself briefly:
Open, honest and ambitious with a passion for working hard and achieving results.

Proudest thing you have done in your life:
My career - starting out as an apprentice straight from school, moving into education and training, with progression to Director roles.

What is your passion? :
Other than apprenticeships and supporting life changing employment opportunities…..playing golf and the challenge in getting better.

The person you most admire:
In a sports context, Tiger Woods, otherwise my wife.

Favourite Sports Team:
New England Patriots

Favourite Book:
Golf Is Not A Game of Perfect by Dr Bob Rotella

What do you do to relax? :
Going to the cinema to relax and unwind. Gym is a great way to de-stress too.

An unusual fact about you:
I was born 3 months premature and I am lucky to be here today!

Managing Director
Describe yourself briefly:
A very competitive, bad loser who gets bored very easily. Sometimes these characteristics serve me well, other times they don’t

Proudest thing you have done in your life:
I know that the work that I have done over the last fifteen years has helped many thousands of people to get into work or helped them do their jobs better. I also know that there are many businesses that are much better than they otherwise would have been because they have recruited a young person into their organisation or trained their existing employees.

What is your passion? :
Learning. I love finding out new things, I love sharing new things with other people and I love the look that people have when they learn something for themselves.

The person you most admire:
My parents – they instilled and lived the values that serve me well

Favourite Sports Team:
Leicester Tigers

Favourite Book:
The History of Britain by Simon Schama – so much information about why as a society we behave the way we do and make the mistakes that we make. Animals by R. McNeill Alexander – a fantastic insight into the animal world by an amazing Professor who lectured me at university. Anything by Julia Donaldson – her books have brought so much happiness to my girls.

What do you do to relax? :
Spend time with my family. I have two young daughters so there is never a quiet moment – though I try to read between 0445 and 0515 most mornings. When time allows I also like to play most sports and also run

An unusual fact about you:
I read Zoology at university in Leeds – and as a result I have a bank of interesting (I think) stories about the animal world. The differing force required to crush a snail shell depending on the beach you find it is fascinating!

Resource Director
Describe yourself briefly:
I’m one of a kind, a creative accountant by trade, not something you come across very often! I left school at 16 and started my life as an accountant with PKF working towards my AAT and moved to Cooper Parry to continue my studying towards becoming a chartered accountant. Yes accountants can be fun and although people may think they wear odd socks, I can be found to have matching socks on a daily basis. My past energetic lifestyle of swimming has long gone to be replaced with lots of DIY.

Proudest thing you have done in your life:
After lots of hard work and years of studying, finally passing the ICAEW exams and getting my ACA status.

What is your passion ? :
“You only get out of life what you put into it” therefore there’s a balancing act between working hard and playing hard

The person you most admire:
My family (yes I can’t just say one person here that would be favouritism!)

Favourite Sports Team:
The Red Bull F1 team

Favourite Book:
My philosophy on books is that it’s so much easier and quicker to watch the film versions of anything.

What do you do to relax:
I enjoy spending time relaxing in the garden with my two dogs and if I can’t make it outside I can be found in the kitchen baking random things that always seem to taste pretty good!

An unusual fact about you:
I have held the club record for both the 50m Fly and 100m Freestyle since 1998