What do you currently do?
I am the CEO of Spencer Ogden, an Energy recruitment company. We have extensive experience across all sectors of the energy market and represent energy professionals at all levels recruiting both nationally and internationally.
In January 2010 I co-founded Spencer Ogden with my business partner Sir Peter Ogden. Since then we have achieved an annual turnover of £15m, have offices in five locations, and are growing the business rapidly.
What is your inspiration in business?
Very simply, I’m always impressed by people who can start and build a world class business from scratch.
Who do you admire?
There are three key people, all of whom are inspirational British entrepreneurs.
The first is my business partner Sir Peter Ogden who founded Computacenter in 1981 and turned it into a £2.7 billion turnover business and started The Ogden Trust with a £20m bursary. The Trust’s aim is to maximise the educational opportunities available to young people wishing to study physics.
Second is Sir Richard Branson, arguably the most successful British entrepreneur of our age. His projects are endless and schemes such as The Virgin Earth challenge are important in the fight against global warming and close to the heart of Spencer Ogden.
Third would be Richard Caring. He was one of the first western high fashion buyers to start supplying Hong Kong manufactured fashion in the UK. Like Richard Branson he donates extensively to charities including the NSPCC.
Looking back, are there things you would have done differently?
No, I absolutely believe that you can’t look back. You can live in the present and look forward or plan for the future, but the past cannot be changed.
What defines your way of doing business?
There are a few things I could mention, ethics, manners and the need to succeed but not at all costs. In my mind these form around a central theme: maintaining moral principles.
I would also say that ambition and drive with a total commitment to one thing (so as not to dilute focus) are core values for me.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Keeping it short and sweet I would say, be bold, be brave and work as hard as you can for as long as you can. And above all, never ever give up on your project.
