WHEN Rob Collier needed a name for his latest business venture he didn’t hesitate to choose his lucky number.

Now, @thirteen, the second business he has started at UK Steel Enterprise’s Innovation Centre in Hartlepool, is already set to roll out its special brand of on-site catering to other centres and large companies on Teesside.

Rob, who set up Advanced Retail Solutions Ltd in the Innovation Centre on the Queens Meadow Business Park two years ago, decided to fill a gap and provide top quality catering at the Centre, home to more than 40 young businesses. Working in partnership with his father, Robert senior, @thirteen was started.

“We love the Innovation Centre and it is the perfect environment to start a business,” he said. “Advanced Retail Solutions has expanded massively here and we now occupy two of the largest units. We are about to add another two Sales Managers to our team of 11 and have a second office and distribution centre in Manchester. ARS is already one of the largest distributors in the UK and carries goods for many major independent wholesalers.

“We thought that if our team like great coffee and food made to order on our doorstep then other tenants would too, so we came up with @thirteen. We invested an initial £8000 on equipment to provide the best range of quality food and drink that we could.”

@thirteen’s range of speciality lattes including gingerbread, marshmallow and hazelnut are especially popular and the menu includes paninis, bacon or sausage baps, salads, a soup of the day, baguettes and cup cakes.

“We use locally-sourced produce and everything is fresh every single day and made to order,” said Rob, who is Hartlepool born and bred. “There are about 250 people working in the Innovation Centre and visitors, delivery drivers and others working on the Business Park are becoming regulars too.

“We are already talking to other Centres and large companies on Teesside about @thirteen as employers are also realising the benefits on-site catering can bring to the business as well as employees.”

He explains the reason behind his lucky number thirteen. Both Rob’s parents were born on the 13th of the month. Rob and his wife Danielle live at number 13 and now the family @thirteen business is continuing the lucky trend. They say it is lucky for some, and in Rob’s case that certainly seems to be the case.

FIVE minutes with Rob Collier, boss of @thirteen in Hartlepool.

Favourite North-East building and why? Newcastle Airport as when you’re there you know you will be somewhere nice and hot within a matter of hours.

What was your first job and how much did you get paid? Twilight shift at Asda .

What is the worst job you've had? I worked in a call centre briefly when I was about 20 and hated being glued to a desk all day.

What would you cook for me if I came around for dinner? Steak (rare), peppercorn sauce and mashed potato.

What would your superpower be? Wolverine’s power to heal yourself would be pretty cool.

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

Sir Richard Branson, Lord Sugar, Sir Philip Green and Peter Jones, should make for an interesting business conversation.

Most expensive thing you've bought - other than car or house - and how much? Louboutin boots for my wife – I can’t bear to say how much.

Who is the best person to follow on Twitter and why? I’m afraid I’m not on Twitter.

Favourite book? I don’t get time to read anything other than children’s books at the moment

When did you last cry? The birth of my son and daughter brought tears to my eyes, as well as my wife’s.

What is your greatest achievement? My two children, River & Mila

What's the best piece of advice in business you've ever been given? Start small, think big.

Favourite animal and why. My Little Teacup Pomeranian Teddy, he’s awesome.

Most famous person on your mobile phone. One of my business partners Chris Kearns was on the TV show Cutting It for a few years, if that counts as famous.

What was the last band you saw live? My wife dragged me to watch Rihanna and David Guetta - it was actually a pretty good night.

Describe your perfect night in. On the couch with my wife Danielle, a take away and a good action movie. Though if my wife got her way it would probably be a romcom.

In another life I would be... Me, I would just do it better.

Who would play you in a film of your life? The team in the office say Chris Pine – he already has the beard.

What irritates you? Laziness, There’s no need for it, if you want to achieve something, GET UP AND DO IT!

What's your secret talent? Well, I can’t sing or dance, but I do have a talent for reading people, which comes in pretty handy.