Mark Leigh Wolstencroft, the founder of Mark Leigh Kitchens, with showrooms in Kendal and Lancaster, celebrates 40 years of being in business this year.

He says: "Leaving school, there could have been the expectation for me to to move away for my career, leaving behind my Saturday job at the SieMatic dealership in Lancaster.

But even then at age 18, I’d already found that the job gave me the mix of personal and technical that I loved: matching the latest in design and innovation to customers’ individual requirements and lifestyles.

Growing in experience and expertise, I took over the dealership in 1984, establishing it in my name as Mark Leigh Kitchens. I moved from my home town of Langho to Lancaster in 1987, the same year our daughter, Rachel, was born. I was about to say those early years involved long hours, but that’s never really changed. Working six long days or more comes naturally if you’re truly passionate about your business.

I think I achieved a work / family balance by luring them in too! My wife manages the accounts, and it’s been wonderful to see Rachel develop, just as I did, across 15 years in the business now. From customer care to specialised expertise, our longstanding staff of eight are all exceptionally dedicated and hardworking, which you can’t take for granted; I’m very proud of our small and loyal tight knit team.

Now we are one of the UK’s longest-established SieMatic dealerships and like us, SieMatic are family owned and run. I’ve never felt tempted to diversify into bathrooms and other home supplies, it’s always been about kitchens for me and I think that’s been the key to our success - why dilute the expertise we offer?

Cumbria’s people, properties and life aspirations are a natural fit so opening our Kendal showroom over 12 years ago was an easy decision. We’d been thinking about Kendal for a long time, we needed more space to show displays and products off properly, and our Lake District customers were travelling to Lancaster (and battling with the traffic) which seemed a nonsense. When the showroom became available on the high street it was too good an opportunity to miss. It has meant a whole new customer base with second homes, holiday homes and new builds now part of our portfolio, and with this we’ve been able to increase our staff too.

I think success comes from truly listening to the customer: the tiniest, seemingly throwaway, comment can reveal the real need, and lead to life-enhancing design decisions. My philosophy is to write everything down – I’m still a pad and pencil guy - it helps with organisation, communication and building genuine customer relationships.

It’s important to me that the whole team have local knowledge, as well as support with their continuing training: design courses, product training days and professional qualifications. I travel to SieMatic’s head office in Germany regularly to keep abreast of the latest designs and innovations.

Still as driven as 40 years ago, family time is important to me, and I relax by playing golf, watching films or reading.

In a challenging economic climate for manufactures and importers, a reputation for quality of service is priceless. There’s a reason we call the kitchen the heart of the home; what continues to drive me is inspiring, leading and developing Rachel and the whole team to transforming people’s domestic life for the better.

My top tip – Never over look what’s on your door step. It could be the very thing that shapes your life. It was for me!