What was your earliest memory? Beautiful Lancashire, in a small church in Nelson, at the baptism of my younger brother Paul.

Did you go through training/university or straight to work? I went to Newcastle Upon Tyne University, graduating in 1986 with a BA (Hons) in Business Studies.

Who have been your mentors? My parents, who had very little but always pushed me in terms of work ethic, discipline and good manners.