Glynis Fox

Solid experience, good contacts and a “can do” attitude have combined to give engineering company boss Chris Woolley an unexpected break – into the world of education!

The Managing Director of IMPS (UK) Ltd in North Hykeham, whose company is best known for repairing, maintaining and supplying parts for diesel engines, and supplying generators, has just built a fully-functioning ship’s engine in a Scottish College.

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This feature interview was first published in issue 74 of the Lincolnshire Business weekly magazine, now available to read at www.lincsbusiness.co. Subscribe to the email newsletter to receive the latest edition in your inbox this Friday.

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Chris, whose team has also serviced hundreds of ships’ engines around the world, was thrilled to be at the heart of a ground breaking project to supply and install a MAK designed and built 20 tonne engine in the City of Glasgow College’s Riverside Campus.

Engineers from the Whisby Way factory spent five months working on what is claimed to be the most modern working engine room in a college in the UK, which UK Chamber of Shipping Chief Executive Officer Guy Platten described as an inspiration.

“It was an irresistible opportunity for us to deliver such an unusual order for a UK client, when about 90% of our work is for export markets, especially Africa, Asia and the Far East,” said Chris.

“One of our directors Simon Houselander, joined IMPS (UK) Ltd a couple of years ago. His previous company had received an initial inquiry from the college five years earlier, but nothing happened at that time.

“Then two of the nautical college’s lecturers tracked us down and said they wanted to source a working engine room, which would operate and sound like the real thing, and offer their students real-time experience.”

Glasgow has a sister college in Angola and especially wanted a MAK engine. There are not many around of this model in the second hand market, but we were able to supply them with one,” said Chris.

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Continue reading the full cover interview with Chris Woolley in Issue 74.

For the latest dispatch of business news from across Lincolnshire delivered in your inbox every Friday, subscribe to the Lincolnshire Business magazine.

By his own admission Paul Collins pulls no punches when it comes to the world of property management – even if telling it straight risks a prospective landlord having second thoughts…

In fact, his direct, “warts and all” approach has resulted in potential clients going elsewhere, discovering a few hard truths and returning to Paul a few months down the line, wishing they had been more receptive to his original warnings.

Renting out a second property, whether it’s an inherited pile, a property that’s suddenly become “surplus” because you and your partner have moved in together, or available while you try a taste of living abroad, can be an exciting time.

On the plus side, there’s the attractive prospect of earning a tidy income, but letting out your property can also be fraught with hassles. You need to do your homework and choose your management agency with care.

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This feature interview was first published in issue 70 of the Lincolnshire Business weekly magazine, now available to read at www.lincsbusiness.co. Subscribe to the email newsletter to receive the latest edition in your inbox this Friday.

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After nearly 20 years at the helm of Belvoir! Lettings’ Lincoln area franchise, Paul knows the industry inside out. His experience means that he doesn’t shy away from telling would-be landlords that there’s more to renting out their property than handing a set of keys to their management agency and waiting for the cash to roll in.

For a start there’s the sticky matter of red tape, an area which has become increasingly complex with the need to protect landlords’ and tenants’ interests. Just as difficult is getting to grips with people’s individual perceptions and expectations.

And, irrespective of whether they are a prospective landlord or a tenant, who has been rigorously credit-checked, people’s personal standards never cease to surprise.

So why was Paul attracted to this industry in the first place? Unsurprisingly, perhaps, it wasn’t his original intention but, in common with people from all walks of life, he felt he could offer a better service than he had experienced himself.

“Belvoir was originally a cottage industry, which was started by entrepreneurial couple, retired Wing Commander Mike Goddard and his wife Stephanie, who got the business going by managing an initial 100 properties. Mike is still Belvoir’s Chairman,” said Paul.

“In December 1996, I was an army warrant officer based at RAF Digby and I was coming-up to finishing my military career. I had always wanted to be a policeman, so I decided to apply.

“Sadly, my spelling let me down back then, although I have to say that it’s improved greatly since!”

Spotting an opportunity

“One day I was sitting at my desk at RAF Digby, flicking through a copy of The Pathfinder, a magazine featuring adverts placed by non-military organisations and designed to attract the attention of soon-to-be ex-service people.

“I spotted a double page about Belvoir! Property Management and I thought ‘I can do that!’ I had let my own house whilst working in Africa and experienced terrible service.

“You could say that I had found myself on the wrong side of what I would deem to be good property management,” said Paul.

“I had no experience at all of running a business or managing property, but I rang Mike Goddard and said: ‘I’m interested in your Lincoln area franchise. Is it still free?’ I met him the following Tuesday, we had a chat and the rest is history.”

Paul, set up his business in early December 1996 and left the Army in February 1997 (he had leave due). After a week’s training with Mike – at Mr Goddard’s house – he started working from home.

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Continue reading the full cover interview with Paul Collins in Issue 70.

For the latest dispatch of business news from across Lincolnshire delivered in your inbox every Friday, subscribe to the Lincolnshire Business magazine.