Q&A: Brett Thompson

30 October 2020

In the hot seat this week is Brett Thompson, managing director of Alide Hire Services. The company has three depots in Bristol, Bath and Keynsham.

How’s business?

Business has certainly improved albeit with a sense of caution. Who knows what’s going to happen in the next few months.

What is your standout Covid-19 related memory or experience?

The comradeship of employees during a very difficult time.

What legal or regulatory change would help your business or industry generally?

Introduce standard terms for all business, i.e. 30 days.

If I gave you £5,000 to invest in your business, how would you spend it?

Invest it in the employees – pay or training.

What about £50,000?

Again, I would invest it in the employees – pay or training.

Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired by my Dad [Shaun Thompson was a co-founder of Alide and was for many years its finance director].

What annoys/frustrates you?

Negativity.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Look after your customers and they will continue to use your service.

What new skill would you like to learn?

The art of always looking at the positives even when faced with tricky situations.

How do you relax after a hard day?

I like to get home and listen to how my daughters’ days have been at school.

What was your favourite school subject?

All sports – rugby, cricket, squash, water polo, fives.

If things had been different, what other career might you have chosen?

I would have joined the Army.

Do you follow a particular sport and/or team?

Rugby – mainly Bath Rugby.

What is the biggest challenge facing your business or the wider industry?

I believe the ongoing issue is training within our industry.

And what’s the biggest opportunity?

Hard question to answer but I look at it this way: every day we have the opportunity to improve who we are as people and what we do as a business.

What’s the secret of success?

I will let you know when I find it.

Finally, is there anything you would like to add about the business, the current trading outlook or future plans?

Be positive, smile, be happy - it’s infectious.

Look out for another Q&A with an industry professional here next Friday!