ALAN Purvis has a habit of telling his staff to get on their bikes.

Fortunately for his workforce, it doesn’t mean they are heading for the exit door.

The 46-year-old is a self-confessing cycling bore, who enjoys nothing more than the competitive thrills of endurance tests.

He’s also a keen runner, and such challenging sporting endeavours are key to putting him in the perfect mindset as he pushes his company to be the best.

Born in Sunderland, he now lives in Chester-le-Street, and is managing director at MetroMail, in Seaham, east Durham.

The firm, based on Fox Cover Enterprise Park, employs about 220 workers and handles up to one million pieces of mail every day, as well as carrying out laser printing, wrapping and data management.

It’s a strong workload, and one where Mr Purvis’ passion for pedal power comes in.

He said: “I’m a big believer that a fit and healthy workforce is one that is more productive.

“I cycle to work when I can and I encourage others to do so too.

“I’m a cycling bore and have always loved it; I love that feeling of competition.

“I also like putting myself through the long distance stuff.”

Tackling difficult situations isn’t anything new for the former ship building apprentice.

Appointed managing director at 35, he was given another challenge to overcome.

Typically, with the same grit and determination he calls upon during races, he’s more than succeeding.

He said: “Getting the role was a huge honour, but it brought a lot of everything else too.

“I’d been at the business for a number of years and run just about every department, but when I was handed the keys to the door and given the responsibility for more than 200 people, that’s when it hit.

“I was confident I knew what I was doing and where to take the company forward.

“But I was going home on a night knowing people’s livelihoods were based on me making the right decisions, and that was the biggest fearful part of it.

“At the time, it was scary, but being given the opportunity to lead the workforce and mould them to bring out the best in a team was great.”

Although he admits to some lingering differences in his role from previous posts, Mr Purvis says he continues to relish the job, which he says is made easier by his staff.

He added: “When you are working for a managing director, you have always got someone to speak to.

“You know there is someone around the corner you can go to with a cup of tea and thrash things out to make a decision.

“So, there is a sense of isolation because everything is on your shoulders.

“But here, the team does the business; it’s all down to the staff.

“I just try and bring the best out in them.”

Favourite North-East building and why? Bede School, in Sunderland, which is now Bede College. Built in the 1890s, it represents to me what a proper school should look like and it was a privilege to attend there in the early 1980s. Rather than being a 1970s square box, it had real character and a sense of history. Aesthetically it is still a beautiful building and holds many of the features prevalent in Victorian architecture, although I suspect much of the interior has been updated now it is part of Sunderland College.

What was your first job and how much did you get paid? This answer is really going to age me. My first real job was as an apprentice at North East Shipbuilders, where I earned £40 per week. Prior to that I did a Youth Training Scheme, where I was paid just £26.25. Even in the old days this wasn’t a lot.

What is the worst job you've had? Unfortunately I was asked to completely close down a business unit and announce redundancies on December 16; I felt like Scrooge. That really wasn’t a great thing to have to do but on the positive side, we managed to find work elsewhere for 95per cent plus of the team.

What would you cook for me if I came around for dinner? Me, cook? That’s what the Just Eat iPhone app was developed for.

What would your superpower be? I’ve always wanted to be Spiderman. Not so much for the web spinning bit but to be able to climb like he does rather than how I do it.

Name four people, dead or alive, who would be at your perfect dinner party. I’m not convinced having dead people there would be hugely entertaining (but then again they wouldn’t complain at my rubbish banter) so Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Chris Boardman, Kilian Jornet (a mountain runner) and Kylie Minogue.

Most expensive thing you've bought - other than car or house - and how much? That would have to be my bicycles. There is an ancient saying about how a man can never have enough bikes so it must be true. For the sake of my marriage though I’d rather not say how much it all adds up to.

Who is the best person to follow on Twitter and why? I’m really dull as I mostly use Twitter to following anything cycling related. If I had to pin it down though then there’s a cycling journalist called Carlton Reid from the North-East, who I really enjoy reading. Very knowledgeable and entertaining.

Favourite book? Gironimo!: Riding the Very Terrible 1914 Tour of Italy, by Tim Moore. Tim buys and restores a traditional bike of the period then rides one of the hardest Grand Tours ever conceived even wearing old school clothing. An amazing achievement.

When did you last cry? Watching Disney’s Frozen with my teenage daughter at the Cinema on Christmas Eve when it first came out. I cry at every Disney film I see much to her annoyance.

What is your greatest achievement? Work wise that would have to be becoming managing director at 35. A massive learning curve for me and a huge responsibility for the lives of my team. I hope they would say I’ve done a pretty good job for them though in the years since. Outside of work, every personal best in every race feels such an achievement. Getting better at everything I do, every time I do something, is the drive that pushes me on.

What's the best piece of advice in business you've ever been given? I’m not sure if it was given or just learned, but it’s to do everything with the upmost fairness and integrity.

Favourite animal and why? It has to be a pug. They are just the cutest dogs you can possibly have and my own one, Henry, is just the best. A little dog with a massive personality.

Most famous person on your mobile phone? That would have to be my DJ/music producing son. He’s well and truly on the way up and I’m convinced he’ll make it big very soon.

What was the last band you saw live? That would be Big Country, back in 1983, at Whitley Bay Ice Rink.

Describe your perfect night in. In a snow cave in the Alps with a warm sleeping bag and maybe a nice hip flask of Bavarian Malt Whisky.

In another life I would be... A professional cyclist, a mountain guide or the chief executive of Berghaus.

Who would play you in a film of your life? Ideally my son.

What irritates you? Rudeness, impoliteness and people who think they should be outraged about things just to appear fashionable (mostly on social media).

What's your secret talent? Never ever giving up.