Lee Grears, Managing Director, Responsive, Lillyhall Workington and Whitehaven. Business owner Lee runs tells us about his start in life from leaving school with no academic qualifications to his love of Whitehaven's ' lost world'

 

What does your job involve?

Busy trying to grow a company with almost every day being different to the last. It could be anything from planning our next strategic move to making our clients a brew. I suppose what I’m saying is a bit of everything.

I drive a….

VW T5 transporter

Most memorable meal or favourite food?

Shepherds' pie, is my absolute go-to every time and obviously, I make the best one.

My idea of a great weekend involves…

I like a lazy weekend. Doing stuff in my own time to my own accord, with no one dictating a get-up time or what I should be doing, Lisa has other ideas for that mind, I’m decent at DIY if I do say so myself. Unfortunately, that means I find myself doing all sorts around the home from an attic conversion and new bathroom/shower room fitting to building a pub shed and kitting that out. I love it really, or at least I do once I've made a start. Double that down by spending that time with Lisa and my three boys Evan, Rory, and Charlie.

Best advice you’ve ever been given

You get out what you put in

Favourite pub, café or restaurant in Cumbria

Vagabond Whitehaven, the best atmosphere and the pizzas are immense, followed closely Casa a Roma – great food. Morning time, Shills in Cockermouth – the best reason to take the dog to the groomers on the main street.

Favourite walk in Cumbria

It’s got to be from Whitehaven to St Bees, that part of the coast is like some sort of lost or forgotten world

Best view in Cumbria

As above, stand behind Haig on Kells looking over the coast, the best sunsets ever!

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know

I left school early and have no academic qualifications!

Early riser or enjoy a lie-in?

Lie-in, definitely

How important is social media to you and what channels do you use?

LinkedIn, I like the business feel about it, although that has changed over recent years and it feels slightly more casual which is good. I hate Facebook, I can’t get my head around other people's virtue signally telling me how great everything is, it just doesn’t seem real.

The book or film which has had a lasting impact on you

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas

Apart from a mobile phone, which piece of technology has improved your life in the last couple of years?

I’m a bit of a geek, I love technology. The best thing for me over the past couple of years is definitely my MacBook. I can’t even believe I’ve been converted to Apple, but it is so much better. I still cannot get the hand of an iPhone though, Android all the way for the phone.