Simon OldroydAlternative Curriculum Vitae

I was born in Webheath

(the son of a clergyman

and a teacher), but I

moved to Worcester when

I was 2 years old.

And, apparently, it

snowed a lot.

I learned to drive and row

at an early age.

I enjoyed acting in school

plays – either as a lady or a

Knight.

However, by the time I

reached adolescence, I had

thankfully found other

interests.

I still enjoyed drama, but

also spent time rowing,

fencing and training in

kung fu.

Oh yes, and messing

about on canal boats.

I went to Rolle College,

Exmouth, (the teacher

training part of Exeter

University) where I

studied drama.

But only for a year.

I didn’t really enjoy formal

teaching and so left to

help set up the Worcester

Arts Workshop.

We formed a T.I.E. group

(Theatre in Education),

teaching dance and

drama to underprivileged

kids.

And also toured with our

own productions (this

gave me another chance

to dress up as a lady in

‘Charlie’s Aunt’)!

However, I was thinking

about getting married and

needed a “proper job” –

so I joined BT as a

computer operator (when

disc drives looked like

washing machines).

After 4 years of

programming by Hollerith

card, I was bored, and so I

joined Philips (Field Force

Marketing) to launch

Compact Disc and Laser

Vision into the world (well,

the UK anyway).

About a year later, I

started my first business

with my wife, Gill.

It was the 1980s and

‘robot dancing’ was all the

rage…..(honestly)……

Three years later, we sold

the business and Gill and I

spent some time in

Morocco.

It was there that we

decided to start a family…

But only after we’d spent

some time exploring the

Atlas Mountains!

Jamie was born in ‘86.

(‘Proud father’ moment). I

started working for

Gordon Russell plc the

same year.

And attended their sales

conference the day after

Jamie was born (my wife

still hasn’t forgiven

me….).

Jamie helped with the

marketing, whilst I went

out to find orders (no

matter what the

weather).....

A few years later and I’d

joined Steelcase (the

world’s largest system

furniture manufacturer)

as a European product

manager.

Jamie was getting really

good at marketing now,

so I could spend more

time in Strasbourg

discussing our UK sales

strategy.

Then Ben came along

(another ‘proud father’

moment) but it was hard

to mix work and family

life when I was either in

London or abroad – and

lived in Gloucestershire.

So I joined a Steelcase

dealer (based in Bristol)

as sales manager.

It was closer to home and

allowed me more family

time to climb May Hill

with the kids.

And a chance to use my

Land Rover!

I taught Jamie to row – he

then went on to row at

Henley twice – first as

Captain of boats for his

school, and then as

Captain of Boats for his

University College.

(Another ‘proud parent’

moment).

And supported Ben in his

rugby matches (every

weekend!).

Oh yes - and taught him how

to draw when he was little!

Have a look at his web page

now:

www.mayhilldesigns.co.uk

(I know, I know – yet another

’proud parent’ bit).

During this time, I had been

working for Farrell (an Irish

manufacturer), setting up a

UK company and launching

their brand in England,

Scotland and Wales.

I’d appointed BBI as one of

my distributors and in 1998

there was an opportunity to

buy into the company - so I

did.

Over the 13 years that I

was a director of BBI, I

developed the brand,

launched new initiatives,

led the sales team and

opened 3 new offices.

But also had quite a lot of

fun along the way.

I had some bright ideas,

that helped take the

company from £3m to

over £17m, but found that

I needed to rest my eyes

(ahem) during some of

the more boring parts of

the job…..

My business plan for

growth was successful

(often against the

flow……).

And, I would like to think, I

always provided clients

with innovative designs

(alongside a sense of fun).

Around Christmas 2011

there was an opportunity to

sell my shares, which I did.

And, since then, I’ve been

mainly engaged in charity

work with the Leadership

Trust Foundation and Caplor

Horizons.

My focus, within these

organisations, is mainly on

leadership, strategy, marketing

and brand development.

…(with some help from Ben

on ‘graphic facilitation’)…..

But I now have more time

for walking…..

Gardening…..

And playing with my

latest Landie.

When birds aren’t nesting

in it.

In May 2013, I formed

Symon Associates – a

management consultancy

that is focused on the

organisational

development of SMEs.

And in January 2016, I

became a non executive

director of BrickFab,

helping the organisation

to develop a five-year

growth plan.

However, I still have

time to play with the

grandchildren…….

Although they tell me that I

can, at times, take myself

a bit too seriously…

Thanks for making it to the

end!

A more detailed profile can be

found at:https://uk.linkedin.com/in/simonoldroyd