Adam Marsh, managing director of Solarview, which has transformed the Regal in Cowley Road into a music venue, answers our questions about his career.

What was your first job and what did your responsibilities include?

I was a paper boy, then I worked in a spa shop and a hotel - I used to wait on tables and prepare breakfasts.

How much was in your first pay packet and what did you spend it on?

£6 - I was saving up for a BMX helmet Describe how your career developed to the present day.

When I was in my late teens and 20s I worked 24/7 because I wanted to be involved in the third-generation family insurance business, Arthur Marsh, from an early age. I joined formally at 22 when it was near bust. I ended up a partner in 1999, then became managing director at 29.

I worked in a hotel in the evenings and made a bit of money through a lot of hard work. I used to go out around Oxford all the time, dancing it up at the Park End Club and Maxwells.

You wouldn't believe it but I was employed as a podium dancer in the bad old days! I sold my by then successful insurance business in 2007 and invested in The Regal - a music venue in Oxford.

Outside of work this was always where my passion was, so it is great to now work in such a vibrant industry.

What are the key responsibilities in your position?

Driving forward the business, making sure that we comply with all of the relevant laws and regulations, imparting knowledge to people who want to learn and, of course, financial control.

Describe a typical day I get in at 8-8.30am, but quite often don't finish until 6am. My dog Tan comes along most days and I generally have to give up my comfy leather chair to him. I spend my day in meetings with interested parties, and wading through paperwork until about 6pm when I take the dog for a walk.

After that if I'm on duty I'll be on the door greeting customers, checking that bar managers are performing well and generally controlling the night. After closing I am there to tie up the business side of things, then I head home and collapse.

Who/what have been the biggest influences on your career?

My dad Ricci. From a young age I didn't see him that much in the morning and he was always home quite late, but I always admired the fact that he worked so hard. I think that providing for your own is the most important thing you can do.

What has been your best decision?

Selling my last business.

And your worst?

Working too hard in my early 20s when I should have been out partying (but look where it got me).

What is the best advice you can give to someone starting out in your business?

Research everything and be ready for very long hours.

What is the secret of good management?

Recognising people's strengths and dealing with people's weaknesses, and also at the end of the day not being afraid to tell them if they have done something awful.

Do you have a good work/life balance?

No, I've never learnt it.

What hobbies/interests do you enjoy in your spare time?

I spend a lot of time in Italy, where I feel most relaxed. I have also got two young dogs so they take up a lot of walking time, and I watch a lot of films - anything that helps me to switch-off and unwind.

Is there anything in business that really irritates you?

People, sometimes.

How do you see your company developing over the next five years?

I want The Regal to be a successful multi-use venue, with a really varied and exciting programme. Obviously I want us to make money, and I'd like to see big names approaching us to perform. Ultimately I want The Regal to be an integral part of Oxford's day and night-tiime scene, and a positive asset to the community.

What has been your most satisfying moment?

Watching Supergrass rehearsing on our stage whilst the builders worked around them, with the venue three days from opening and the band two days from going on tour.

Do you believe there is enough help and support from government and agencies for growing businesses?

No, not at all.

What is your attitude to the environment and do you have any green policies in place?

Aside from my car, I try to be very green. I have insisted the venue recycles as much as possible, and I am delighted that we throw away less than three bin bags of unrecyclable waste in a week. I'm trying to persuade a solar installer to give me a good quote for covering our roof with photo-voltaic cells.

What is the secret of a happy workforce?

Strong management, good pay, and a clear career path.

Is there any other job you would like to have done and why?

I regularly wish I could be content doing a nine-to-five job, but my enthusiasm and drive gets ahead of me and I end up taking on huge projects. I'm not someone who passes up an opportunity.

What would you like to do when you retire?

Move to Italy and grow fruit, vegetables and grapes for wine.