Yorkshire Christmas catch-up: Paul Brown of Cars on Demand

As Christmas is only weeks away, and the businesspeople of Yorkshire are preparing to hang up their stockings, Bdaily is continuing its December interview series with a holiday twist.

As you already know, we at Bdaily love to bring our readers closer to the stories we write. So this month, we’re asking the questions we don’t usually get a chance to ask - giving you the opportunity to learn more about the people behind the businesses you often read about.

For the series’ latest instalment, we are speaking with Paul Brown, Managing Director of short term vehicle leasing specialists Cars on Demand, Wakefield.

Your Business

What were the highlights for your business in 2015?

The highlight of 2015 has to be winning the Transformation category at the 2015 BiY awards, run by business support network, Business in Yorkshire.

The award win recognised how we have successfully grown over the last four years to established a national presence through franchising the brand and capitalising on the demand for short term vehicle leasing across the UK.

We now have eight depots across the UK, and by the end of FY2014/15 we had achieved a 23% increase in new contracts. We have also achieved our target of supplying in excess of 1,200 new leasing contracts by the end of 2015.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently this year?

On a lighter (and more selfish!) note, I would have taken more holidays. The team seem to manage just as well without me!

What’s in store for Cars on Demand in 2016?

We’ve got some exciting plans in the pipeline that will see our current services expand and evolve, and we plan to grow the company by a further 20% in 2016.

Your favourites

Have any other Yorkshire companies caught your eye this year? if so - why?

There is no one company in particular. However, I believe that the Yorkshire region has such a diverse range of businesses operating across sectors ranging from modern, high technology to the more traditional arts and craft segments - making being Yorkshire based very exciting and inspiring!

When business life gets on top of you, what do you do to destress?

Drive! Despite the congestion clad, potholed roads, I know some great driving routes that always help me relax. I won’t divulge them though; otherwise they will no longer be uncongested!

Who has been your favourite social media personality this year? Any accounts stood out for you?

The words ‘social media’ and ‘personality’ fill me with dread! Whilst we actively use social media for the company, I leave it to the professionals try to avoid using it myself!

The what ifs

If you could do any job in the world what would it be?

I would love to be a TV or radio newsreader.

If you could go back in time, which piece of advice would you give your younger self?

Don’t do what is expected of you, do what you believe in and is the right thing to do for you.

What would be the perfect Christmas gift for you?

It would have to be the gift of time so that I could spend more of it with my family.

Thank you for your time Paul, Merry Christmas for the Bdaily team!

To feature in our Yorkshire Christmas catch-up series, contact Nick at nick.hill@bdaily.co.uk.

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