Brian Tinson

Managing director and owner, Tinson Training Ltd, which is based near Market Drayton

        1. IN A NUTSHELL, WHAT DOES YOUR COMPANY DO?

Deliver bespoke short courses on clients sites in the area of electrical safety/repairs and basic plumbing.

2. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN YOUR CURRENT JOB?

Ten years

3. EXPLAIN A TYPICAL WEEK IN YOUR WORKING LIFE:

Managing a team of trainers and back up staff and delivering training courses to clients personally

4. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING YOUR INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW?

Finding qualified trainers who share the Tinson Training ethos

5. AND WHAT ARE THE BIG OPPORTUNITIES?

Skill shortages as the economy continues to evolve and grow

6. HOW DO YOU GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR STAFF?

Ensure that my requirements of them are clear and concise. Praise them when it’s due, be friendly, see their point of view.

7. WHAT WAS YOUR LAST MEETING ABOUT, HOW LONG DID IT LAST, AND WAS IT PRODUCTIVE?

Business review and marketing planning with my marketing consultant. 2 Hours and it always is

8. HOW MANY EMAILS DO YOU GET IN A DAY, AND HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE TO READ THEM?

Fortunately I have organised that my business assistant deals with my emails and typically that only leaves me having to deal with two or three a day.

9. DO YOU ANSWER WORK CALLS OR EMAILS AT HOME? WHAT’S THE RIGHT WORK-LIFE BALANCE?

I try to switch off at home and try to keep emailing, calling and texting to a minimum.

10. HOW DO YOU HOPE YOUR COLLEAGUES WOULD DESCRIBE YOU?

Honest, capable, engaging, caring, straightforward

11. BREXIT – WHAT’S YOUR VIEW OF WHAT IT’S ALL GOING TO MEAN?

Personally I prefer independence rather being part of a large club where we lose control. Without doubt it is going to be difficult but I believe we can become a stronger nation.

12. HIGHLIGHTS OR LOWLIGHTS OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?

Going to Tanzania to deliver training and getting the opportunity to go out on safari.  Becoming involved in a pointless totally unsatisfying mission to give people qualifications just to meet a government agenda.

13. PET HATES?

Unreliable and dishonest people, bureaucracy for the sake of it that serves no purpose, businesses or people who create a facade of being helpful when in reality they are only seeking their own reward

14. IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF SOME WISE ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Decide what you want to be and persevere until you achieve it. Believe in yourself.

15. HOW DO YOU RELAX AWAY FROM WORK?

Read, garden, walk and travel, create music

16. WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS SPECIAL ABOUT THE SHROPSHIRE BUSINESS COMMUNITY?

I see it as close knit - not always to best effect - but amazingly diverse from micro to maxi, agribusiness to engineering, high tech to low and determined.

17. TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY WOULDN’T KNOW.

I am a musician and compose my own music

18. YOU CAN TAKE ONE BOOK, ONE FILM AND ONE CD ONTO A DESERT ISLAND – WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

Awaken The Giant Within - Tony Robbins, Twelve Angry Men. Cries From a Distance by Brian Tinson.

19. YOUR FIVE DREAM DINNER PARTY GUESTS, DEAD OR ALIVE?

Jerome K Jerome, Tony Robbins, Mo Farah, Katy Perry, Nelson Mandela

20. WHAT WOULD YOU COOK FOR THEM?

Something that didn’t interrupt the flow of conversation - Chicken casserole for instance