However, my father asked me to work for him at Sound Leisure and try some of the different skills that we had in-house, such as electronics, cabinet making, operating, manufacturing and so on.

At first I was entrusted with the most important duty in a factory, that of making 35 cups of tea and running to the sandwich shop three times a day to keep the lads happy. When I wasn’t mashing tea I spent my time building vinyl mechanism baskets, polishing brass coin-mech plates and sticking the title strip numbers onto the old vinyl jukebox title racks (digital jukeboxes have really taken some of the tedious jobs away). I also spent time on the shop floor building machines alongside the majority of our current personnel.

After a year I progressed to our stores department and learned about customer support and backup. I enjoyed this but really wanted to get out on the road. As soon as I passed my driving test I was moved across to our operating division and worked seven days a week, 14 hours a day installing and servicing jukeboxes in the north of England. I really enjoyed this period and this gave me a great grounding for my next challenges, in sales and then in a management position.

Why? What attracted you to this sector?

My father had worked in the industry for as long as I can remember, at first for MAM and then setting up Sound Leisure with Eddie Moss. I remember a lot about the early days of the business: I was eight when Sound Leisure was established, and recall helping to clear out the old mill on Stafford Street on the outskirts of Leeds where we were originally based. I was always down at the factory as my mum also worked in the business. I suppose I always had a draw to it.

In our family it is not just a work thing, it’s a way of life. My brother and wife also work within the business.

Do you think it has changed much since then?

Being in a sector that relies heavily on the pub trade, we have witnessed a massive change in the past 25 years. Not only has the way that the industry operates changed, so has the outlook of the nation – people are now happy to stay at home and drink and entertain themselves there.

What are the biggest positive factors for the sector right now – the drivers of growth and development?

Technology is a major positive factor. We can now offer so much more to the end user and operator than was ever possible before.

And what are the negative ones – the obstacles to growth?

The main obstacle is the changing marketplace and lack of business confidence that most people have in the sector. This is resulting in a lack of funding for a lot of customers, and that obviously has a knock-on effect.

Looking at your whole career, what do you reckon was your smartest move (large or small)?

Listening to my father and joining the business.

And your dumbest one?

Can’t think of one that can be printed!

Where do you hope you’ll be, professionally, in ten years’ time?

Still running a family business with my brother, Mike, and possibly one of my kids.

And finally – if you’d never embarked on this career, what other line(s) of work would you have liked to pursue?

Painting and decorating, as per the first question, or possibly something to do with banking.

Curriculum vitae

Education:

1983-86 Mount Saint Mary’s High School, Leeds

Career:

since 1986 at Sound Leisure his entire career; now managing director

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