Stephen Wright, MD of Thorite, writes:

Q. Where were you born?

Shipley hospital, so local born and bred

Q. Where did you start your working life?

As with many family businesses I started working at Thorite in school holidays in my early teens

Q. What were your ambitions -and do you still have any?

Continuing to grow the business into a national player; we’re getting there but need more coverage in the South of England

Q. Would you rather be doing something else?

In a fantasy world I’d be running a ski chalet in the Alps

Q. What do you regard as your biggest achievement?

Having failed my 11-plus I went to a secondary school but lucked out as I got swapped into a comprehensive during one of our endless educational policy changes, ending up doing A-levels, a degree and finally an MBA at Huddersfield Polytechnic

Q. What are your key tips for success?

Hard work and working out of your comfort zone Q. What regrets do you have?

Not having a formal engineering qualification Q. How do you relax?

Reading and cycling

Q. What are your hobbies/pastimes/outside interests?

I cycle throughout the year and in winter like to get a couple of ski holidays in

Q. What is your favourite book/ film /play or song?

My favourite author is Ian M Banks, who passed away recently and having read all his science fiction books I’ve now started on his mainstream fiction books

Q. Who is your hero?

Not sure if I’m a hero type of person but, if I must, Winston Churchill for the breadth and length of his career

Q. What do you think of Bradford and its prospects?

Bradford has a lot going for it and I see its prospects at this time as good. The current focus on manufacturing will benefit Bradford and once the Broadway development is complete Bradford’s itinerant naysayers will need to go and find somewhere else to live and whinge about.