70 | Tees Business
TEES TALK
Peter Robinson, managing director, Nordic
Products and Services
“I prefer starting late, but if I want to increase my
work quality and output I start early.
“I find the quiet time before 8.30am is the best
time for clear and uninterrupted thought.
“Working late extends the work time, but usually
by this stage my brain is tired and it takes longer to
get things done.
“So, in my case, preference and quality/output
are definitely two distinct matters.”
Darren Sutherland, chief executive, Utility
Alliance
“I’ve always preferred working early – though
I’ve had a few jobs where I’ve started early and
worked until late! I think you are more switched on
first thing on a morning, you get in a routine and I
believe you get more done.
“I think it is important after a busy day to go
home and switch off, have some quality time with
the family and make sure you’re refreshed and
ready to go again the next morning.”
Catherine Devereux, associate, Endeavour
Partnership
“I’d never have called myself a morning person until
having children - and then you don’t have a choice
in the matter. I generally feel more productive on a
morning, and if I get a good start it tends to set the
scene for the remainder of the day.
“I do, however, find that once the office is quiet
and the phone stops ringing at the end of the day
that I can get my head down - and so ultimately I
would say I prefer working late.”
Joanna Wake, managing director, RAW Digital
Training
“Early, for sure! For me it’s not only better for
energy levels, therefore getting more done, but
also it’s a wise time to work for me. I can have two
hours’ work done by the time my son gets up on a
morning at home.
“When I finish in the office for the day I like
to be squeezing the most out of life with him. If
something urgent comes up I’ll work late on a night
when he’s asleep, but it’s not often.
“I’d say it’s taken me a few years to get the right
balance on that front, but it’s super important.”
We ask eight Tees business
leaders if they prefer to start
early in the day, or work late
into the night...
Alex Ingham, managing director, M.I. Supplies
“Trying to balance work and family plus personal
commitments means the easiest way to manage
my life is getting to work early and leaving at a
sensible time.
“I like to be in the office by 7.30am, it massively
helps me to manage my day and feel like I’m ahead
of the day. By being in sharp, it benefits me when
devoting time to colleagues and customers when
unexpected things crop up. Coming in later in
the day, I feel managing all of this becomes quite
difficult.”
Sophia Gowland, client relations manager,
Espresso Web Solutions
“I definitely prefer to work early. I’m much more of
a morning person but also my days tend to be more
productive if I come in an hour early and plan my
day out without any distractions before the official
day starts.
“If I get into work an hour early I’m happy. It
gives me a sense of being in control of my day,
instead of trying to play catch-up.”
Alisdair Beveridge, managing director, The Build
Directory
“I don’t have a preference, but I love parts of
both! We as a business work very early from an
installations point of view and also late as a sales
team as we mirror our customers’ schedules.
“I rise early and enjoy getting the day started by
stacking my things to do list and enjoy the hustle
and bustle of the afternoon. Although I often find
myself driving back very late and making lots of
calls to de-brief and set-up for the next day.”
Anne Yare, senior HR manager, SABIC
“I’m tempted to say both – but I certainly
prefer working early. I’m not naturally a morning
person but I’ll usually be at my desk before 8am
because the sector I work in is very much a 24-7
environment.
“SABIC’s operational dayshift teams start a
few hours earlier and we often have telephone
discussions with our overseas colleagues, whose
working days are at least one hour ahead of us, so
it’s important to link up with them as best as I can.”