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

I worked as a bookkeeper for a towel company in Bristol, doing all the accounts for the business. It was horribly unexciting but I learnt a lot about how much accounts are as much art as science.

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

£18 — it wasn’t a lot even in 1975 for a week at work and as far as I remember it went on records and other teenage stuff. I remember trying to save for a reel-to-reel tape recorder.

Describe how you career developed to the present day.

I did a whole variety of jobs in Bristol and London from marketing for an airline to working in the evenings as a hospital cleaner before going to the London School of Economics as a mature student when I was 26. After graduating I went into a training programme with the Coal Board before going into purchasing. Since then I have specialised in European procurement legislation which helped me to set up Achilles with my Norwegian business partner in 1993.

What are the key responsibilities in your position?

I am responsible for helping to set expectations of investors and then ensuring we meet them. Part of my aim is to keep my team working as closely as possible in a multi-national business.

Describe a typical day There really isn’t one. I do spend a lot more time on internal matters than I used to as the business has grown. I do try and get involved in as much customer contact as possible and travel to meet people in our other offices.

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

I was lucky to do a number of basic jobs early in my career and that was a great grounding. I think the training I did at the Coal Board was the best anyone could have wished for and I would like to provide more opportunities like that for staff in Achilles.

What has been your best decision?

My wife, Rosemary, supported me through university, joined the company just after me and was with Achilles for 15 years. We are still best friends and hardly ever disagree on anything important.

And your worst?

Trying to build a so-called electronic marketplace during the dot.com boom was nearly catastrophic and cost us about £12m.

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

Stick to the job and become best at it — anyone who is totally reliable and gets things done quickly will eventually be picked up for better jobs as they appear.

What is the secret of good management?

Honesty and integrity are the most important things in business. I have been incredibly lucky to work with my Norwegian business partner, Sturla Sand, who is the most honest and straightforward person you could meet. And never read management books — if you want to know about people, read Jane Austen.

Do you have a good work/life balance?

No — I am still struggling to be more balanced.

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

Walking and skiing. Rosemary and I like going to galleries and concerts as well.

Is there anything in business that really irritates you?

People not understanding that customer-facing issues should always take priority.

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

For the last three years we have grown at about 25 per cent a year. I would like to accelerate this growth as I think there is plenty of potential.

What has been your most satisfying moment?

Getting our first contracts in the oil industry with 11 major operators joining simultaneously in 1995. More recently, seeing through the acquisition of the business by HgCapital was very pleasing.

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

I really don’t think that there is any real help for start-up businesses unless you are involved in something trendy or politically geared.

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

Until recently I have been a Luddite about the environment but am becoming constantly more alarmed about the potential crisis facing us. Achilles has recently started a major initiative to measure the carbon footprint of suppliers to seven major utility companies. We definitely need to do more internally as a company.

What is the secret of a happy workforce?

Being successful and feeling part of a team.

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

An instructor for our nominated charity, Outward Bound. It must be incredibly rewarding helping children who are disadvantaged by physical, economic or other circumstances realise they can achieve and feel good about themselves.

What would you like to do when you retire?

I don’t like the thought of retirement and believe it is a rather old-fashioned idea. The idea of being laid up in retirement, I think, is wasteful. I hope to avoid this by having a range of activities in old age.

Name: Colin Maund Age: 51 Job: Chief executive, Achilles Group, Milton Park Time in job: 16 years Contact: 01235 820813 E-mail: www.achilles.com