Work ethic is important

IF you spent the weekend dodging requests from your offspring for the latest gadgets, sportswear and fashions, then you might appreciate Colin Leyden’s old-fashioned approach to parenting.

The Scot, who began his working life with the usual array of dull menial tasks, believes that youngsters should learn the value of money at an early age “You need to understand how the world revolves,” said the boss of Falck Safety Services, which delivers safety training to more than 15,000 people each year from its training centre in Teesside.

“While your values are usually gained from your parents you need to learn a work ethic yourself. That was the way I was brought up.

“I was told ‘If you want those football boots you go and earn the money yourself.’ “My sons are well looked after, we are in a lucky position in that respect, but when it comes to anything special they are looking for they have to fund it themselves. Either from a job outside or things they do around the house.”

After spells of stacking shelves and delivering ice cream, Mr Leyden’s career proper began in electronics and software engineering in the late 1980s when he joined Polaroid’s graduate training programme.

“I was sent to the US running a robotics project,” he said. “It opened my mind to the possibilities of work and travel. I came back and ran various departments for them in Scotland. At the time their site in Loch Lomond was the biggest camera manufacturing plant on the planet.”

Polaroid’s failure to react to the emergence of digital photography saw the business enter administration.

Mr Leyden later joined Novar, which gave him an introduction to the safety sector.

A subsequent move to engineering support group IMI, eventually running its West Midlands-based Norgen operation, broadened his experience considerably.

He said: “We were supplying the automotive, oil and gas and life sciences sectors.

As you would expect they were very safety focused. I learnt a lot.”

He considered a range of options, including the charity sector, before last summer joining Falck.

“I wanted to be with a company that lived by its values, rather than paid lip service to them. It had to be something meaningful.

“I know I made the right choice.

“This business is about preventing disease and providing emergency response and care in any environment.

“The oil industry had the Piper Alpha disaster, which was terrible, but the positive thing that came from it was a massive amount of focus by external governing bodies, and internally by producers, owners and operators, to be very serious about safety.

“In an industry which is constantly pushing the boundaries the risks are not going away. There has to be a constant focus on safety, and in this company, safety is in our DNA.”

Five minutes with Colin Leyden...

Favourite North-East building and why?

Its got to be Hadrian’s Wall.

There are so many. I am a big fan of Durham Cathedral too, what an amazing site to visit.

What was your first job and how much did you get paid?

My first pocket money job was on an ice cream van where I got £2.50 a shift, I was loaded. My first proper job was a graduate electronics engineer with Polaroid and I earned £9,000 a year. With the learning I got there I should have been paying Polaroid.

What is the worst job you’ve had?

Before completing full-time studies I stacked shelves, worked in pubs, delivered ice cream, fitted heating... you name it. I have never had a bad job, they are all good if there is a result at the end. It was people who made jobs bad. I had a boss who continually verbally abused people in his charge. I left and found something else before I got myself into trouble. He did teach me a lot though about leadership.

What would you cook for me for dinner?

I do a mean chicken and egg fried rice. Well Leanne and my boys tell me that. There is a lot of soy sauce thrown around so I hope it’s not disguising the taste.

What would your superpower be?

To be able to fly... I have a fascination for flying. All types of aircraft from hot air balloons to fast jets. So to be able to whizz along at any time would fulfil that childish desire.

Name four people, dead or alive, who would be at your perfect dinner party.

Billy Connolly, Prince Charles, Norman Wisdom and Boris Johnson. They are all passionate about people from different angles, the clashes would be great fun and the stories I am sure would make you laugh.

Most expensive thing you’ve bought – other than car or house – and how much?

When we lived in the US I bought a multi-gym for the basement which cost me more than $6,000. I used it twice.

Who is the best person to follow on Twitter and why?

I follow a lot of people. I have only recently started twitter and after a dozen tweets my son explained that I was tweeting to myself, I am still a relative novice. Outside of family I have three passions – safety, astronomy and golf, these make up the majority of the areas I follow on twitter.

Favourite book?

Got to be the Hobbit. It’s the first proper book I can remember actually enjoying.

When did you last cry?

Scotland 0 South Africa 28 a couple of weeks back. I cry a lot watching Scotland, although Gordon Strachan has managed to reduce the tissue consumption when I travel to Hampden Park.

What is your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement has got to be bungee jumping. I am afraid of heights and decided to shock myself out of it by doing a bungee jump.

It made me ten times worse.

What’s the best piece of advice in business you have ever been given?

When the going is good, check the detail. Too many times we are blind to issues by good market conditions or luck.

Favourite animal and why?

Archie our golden doodle. He is a turnaround master. We were wondering if we had done the right thing in bringing him into the family, now he runs the house.

Playful, clumsy and full of character.

Most famous person on your mobile phone?

Cannot say for fear of them finding out I have their number, they may change it. I have a few famous people on my phone who I have been lucky enough to meet. I am sure that they don’t have me on theirs.

What was the last band you saw live?

Red Hot Chili Peppers. I saw them for the first time in a bar in Cambridge Massachusetts, a long time ago.

Describe your perfect night in.

Leanne, me and the boys watching the 50th anniversary Dr Who, then a couple of hours of Monopoly with Calum, my youngest, on the bank. Competing with his older brother, Aaron, is like watching Wall Street all over again.

In another life I would be...

Wouldn’t change my life for anything. Been really lucky to have the experiences I have, wouldn’t risk that. That said, I am pretty jealous of almost every professional golfer.

Who would play you in a film of your life?

I would like Ewan McGregor to play me. There is a chance then the film would be seen.

What irritates you?

Lack of ambition, giving up, “it can’t be done”, any form of barrier I suppose. I am ever the optimist and also very stubborn, so really believe anything can be achieved if you really put your mind to it.

What’s your secret talent?

I am pretty quick to identify opportunities to improve. I really like helping others achieve and work as hard as I can to help colleagues develop their career. At home, and according to my boys, I also have a special talent for being seen by the opposing team and shot on their games console.