Stuart Place, director Airedale Flooring
What was your first part-time job?
I used to work in a restaurant as a waiter and a washer up when I was
14 or 15. I was quite good under pressure, and it was a really good introduction to working life.
And your first full-time job?
After uni, I went to work for a builder on the Royal Armies Museum in Leeds. I started in the drawing office, then moved into flooring. That was my first full-time job and it got me into construction.
Greatest achievement?
Apart from family, running Airedale on my own for the past 15 years. Going from a small company to a medium-sized contractor and doing well has been very rewarding.
Favourite drink?
Red wine, such as a good Shiraz or Merlot.
Which record and book would you take to a desert island?
The Beatles White Album for a record and Lord of the Rings for a book.
How often do you take holidays and favourite destination?
We go away every year. The best trip was to Australia to visit friends. We went to Melbourne and Sydney – fantastic places. We used to do
Florida for Disney with the kids but that’s done now.
What car do you drive and
what does it say about you?
I’m not really into cars. I’ve got a BMW X1. It has a big boot for the dogs and my wife likes driving it. That’s about it.
Do you have any pets?
Yes, two dogs. Woody and Bo. Woody’s 12, Bo’s nine. They’re lifechanging. We go on lots of walks now and they’ve really changed our routine. Woody’s a cockapoo and Bo’s a small coton de tulear.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Just be honest. Tell the truth. It’s not always easy, there’ll be cashflow problems, but if you have a problem, speak to people. Honesty and communication are the best advice I’ve had.
If your house was on fire, which possession would you rescue?
Apart from the wife, probably my record collection. I have thousands, including the Beatles White Albums and the complete Beatles
mono collection.
What did you spend your first paycheck on?
Honestly, I can’t remember. Probably just going to the pub.
How do you relax?
Music, exercise and reading, really. Those are my main ways of unwinding.
If you could be anyone, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be?
Elvis Presley. I’d love to see how he came from nothing to the life he had by the end.
Any unfulfilled ambitions?
Music. I played bass guitar as a kid and toured a bit, but it would’ve been nice to take it further.
Did you ever get into trouble at school, and if so, why?
I suppose the only time I really did was when one of the teachers gave me a set of school keys for the whole school. I forgot to give them back for a few weeks and I went into the tuck shop. I didn’t do anything major, maybe took a couple of Kit Kats, but I got into trouble for that.
Five words to describe yourself?
Bold, caring, family-orientated, interested, curious.
Who would you most like to be stuck in a lift with?
It would probably be Paul McCartney.
Hobbies?
Music, exercising and reading.
I play bass guitar and trombone. I was even thinking about going to college for music at one point, but life went in a different direction.
If you could invent any product in the world?
Probably a screen that could go over any subfloor to stop moisture and never fail. I can’t really think of anything else.
