1. Manchester Evening News Press Article April 2016
Coffee With: Paul Wood
18:00, 20 APR 2016
BY LUCY ROUE
The director and founder of Vantage Building
Consultancy, shares his secrets…
52S H A R E S
What is your business motto?
I feel fortunate to have worked in a number of business sectors during my working life, from professional
sport to health care and property consultancy.
On my travels I have seen the good and the bad of business practice and this has led to my belief in a
simple focused business motto which I have built Vantage around - ‘we deliver on our promises’. Keep it
simple and success will follow.
How do you make contacts which are useful for business?
Business is built around relationships, and my experience has taught me that people do business with those
who they believe in and trust.
The best contacts I have built are those where we have developed confidence in each other’s abilities and
are therefore happy introduce each other to our own network of contacts.
A tip I always pass on is that business is a small world, so keep a log of your contacts, follow up with
people up (through email, LinkedIn, etc.) and keep in touch whenever possible.
What makes your business different?
Before I started Vantage, I sat down and really thought about why I was setting the business up and what
my vision was.
I came up with 10 core values which are on the company website and built around two basic things - best
serving our clients and best serving our staff and the surveying profession. Vantage is a business built
around really understanding people and being willing to go the extra mile.
What do you always carry with you?
My notepad and pen, as I am constantly coming up with ideas. However, I am trying to embrace
technology and go paper-free in the office so my iPad is becoming my new notepad.

2. Do you dress up or down for business?
My attire varies depending on what I am doing, and I am not a believer that you need to dress formally.
When visiting clients or if I have a formal meeting, it has to be suit and tie, but if I am in the office, or out
on site crawling round a warehouse in Trafford Park smart casual works best.
What is your proudest achievement in business?
I have done a few things I am really proud of, such as extending a rehabilitation Centre for army veterans
and helping establish a successful Manchester office for another surveying company.
I am also proud to have supported charities like Over The Wall, which provides camps for children with
serious illnesses and their families, by taking part in events like the Big Chill Swim Winter Gala.
However, my proudest achievement has to be starting Vantage last June, and being proof that if you dream
it you can do it.
Who has inspired you in your business life and why?
I have a had a few great mentors, but growing up Alex Ferguson was someone who always amazed me. He
worked with passion and I was enthralled by him - not something I admit often, being a City supporter.
What is your tip for a successful business?
In business, your life is about serving others. When you serve others, you serve yourself so work with
conviction.
When are you most creative or inspired?
As an early riser, the morning has to be my most inspiring work time, but, on a personal level, ending the
day with exercise helps me leave work at work.
What is the most inspirational book you have read?
One of my mantras is to read for at least 30 minutes a day, as I enjoy learning and expanding my horizons.
I read everything from the local press (obviously the Manchester Evening News) and property magazines
to business or motivational books, but my best reads are often biographies. One of the most inspirational of
late was Total Recall by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
When do you take your coffee break?
I find to work effectively you need to grab five minutes and get away from your desk every hour. I take a
quick walk to the tea point, grab a chat with someone and then I am ready to get going again.
Americano, latte, cappuccino – what’s your coffee break favorite?
I start the day with a skinny cappuccino and make sure I have time to enjoy it while chatting to my wife
Christy.