[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”HEADER – Day in the Life” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Day-in-the-Life-Senior-Sales-BANNER-WEB.jpg” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”%91%93″][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”A Day In The Life of A Senior Sales Manager” subhead=”an interview with Phil Gardner” admin_label=”HEADER – Day in the Life” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ title_font_size=”61px” title_line_height=”1.7em” background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.29)” background_enable_image=”off” z_index_tablet=”500″ global_colors_info=”%91%93″ button_one_text__hover_enabled=”on|desktop”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Introduction” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”|-156px||12px|false|false” custom_padding=”75px|0px|50px|0px|false|false” border_color_all=”rgba(255,186,96,0.6)” border_width_right=”8vw” border_color_right=”#5b8cb1″ locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ admin_label=”Introduction” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ custom_padding=”50px|0px|50px|0px|true|false” use_custom_width=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”HEADER – Introduction” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ text_text_color=”#ffba60″ text_letter_spacing=”4px” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”||||||||” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_5_font=”||||||||” header_6_font=”||||||||” module_alignment=”center” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”bottom” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” inline_fonts=”Georgia” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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With a sales career that started in finance and blossomed in business travel, Phil Gardner is an experienced industry veteran with plenty of stories to tell. Between trips around the country and face-to-face meetings with clients, Phil relishes meeting new people and expanding his knowledge about different companies, cultures, and the business travel world at large.<\/p>\n
In this article, we chat with Phil about his day-to-day responsibilities as a Senior Sales Manager at Gray Dawes, his ultimate career highlights, and a random appearance on a British TV dating show…<\/p>\n
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[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”#story-intro” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”READ PHIL’S STORY” admin_label=”BUTTON- High Touch” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Staff-Photo-PHIL-GARDNER-blog.jpeg” custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”618px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”SECTION – Describe Career So Far” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#efefef” custom_margin=”6px||||false|false” custom_padding=”70px||70px||false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”ROW – Describe Career So Far” module_id=”story-intro” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”35px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”HEADER – Describe Career So Far” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0.1%||0.1%||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ admin_label=”ROW- Career as Product Manager” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”BODY – Describe Career So Far” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\nI’ve been with Gray Dawes for nearly 7 years, not counting a small sabbatical in the middle. Before that, I worked in the finance sector for a credit card company.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
When I was about 25 years old I decided I wanted a complete change of scenery. My friend went to work for a Travel Management Company (TMC) in the Midlands and I followed in his footsteps, joining their team as a Business Development Manager (BDM).<\/p>\n
I did well there. It was an extremely competitive “dog eat dog” environment, but I managed to get promoted to Sales Team Leader.\u00a0However, my role involved me dealing predominantly with SME businesses. I wanted to step up my career.<\/p>\n
I already knew a couple of people working at Gray Dawes and the profile and history of the company really appealed to me. The Head of Sales at the time approached me with a job offer and I jumped at the opportunity. I came in at a time when the sales team was still growing – we didn’t have a slide deck and there wasn’t much of a marketing team, so we pretty much built everything from scratch.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”BODY – Describe Career So Far” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Now I’m a Senior Sales Manager. The majority of my role involves meeting new prospects from companies who are looking for someone like Gray Dawes to partner with and to manage their travel.<\/p>\n
\nI spend a lot of time learning all about different companies, finding out what is important to them, what they are doing in their industry space, and how Gray Dawes might be able to improve their experience – it’s normally a very long list of things!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
I also manage the Inside Sales team, whose job is to make initial contact with potential clients and book meetings for Sales Managers to pursue the deal.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.26.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/careers\/life\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”LEARN MORE ABOUT LIFE AT GRAY DAWES” admin_label=”BUTTON- High Touch” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”SECTION – Statistics Counters” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#414042″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(10,1,1,0.8) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0.79) 100%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Data-Driven-WEB.jpg” custom_padding=”120px||120px||false|false” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_text_align=”center” header_3_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_3_font_size=”54px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Sales Manager Statistics<\/h3>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ admin_label=”ROW- Statistics MAtrix” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_number_counter number=”23rd” percent_sign=”off” admin_label=”COUNTER – Age” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h5″ title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size=”10px” number_text_color=”#54C1D9″ number_font_size=”50px” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_number_counter][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – Age” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_4_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_5_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
where the role of ‘Sales Manager’ is ranked in “best jobs” in the US, according to US News rankings<\/h4>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_number_counter number=”5″ admin_label=”COUNTER – Women” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h5″ title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size=”10px” number_text_color=”#54C1D9″ number_font_size=”50px” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_number_counter][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – Women” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_4_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
the estimated % increase of sales manager roles expected between 2021 and 2031<\/span><\/h4>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.20.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_number_counter number=”46,000″ percent_sign=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”COUNTER – Degree” module_class=”dh-currency” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h5″ title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size=”10px” number_text_color=”#54C1D9″ number_font_size=”50px” background_layout=”dark” custom_css_free_form=”.dh-currency.et_pb_number_counter .percent-value:before {|| content: ‘\u00a3’;|| font-size: 26px;|| top: -16px;|| left: 0px;|| position: relative;|| margin-right: 8px;||}” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_number_counter][et_pb_number_counter number=”82″ admin_label=”COUNTER – Women” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h5″ title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size=”10px” number_text_color=”#54C1D9″ number_font_size=”50px” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_number_counter][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – Women” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_4_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
the % of salespeople who see building relationships as the most rewarding part of their job<\/span><\/h4>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”ROW – Statistic Footnote” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-88px||-74px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Statistic Footnote” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”||on||||||” text_font_size=”13px” link_font=”|700|||||||” link_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_layout=”dark” min_height=”37.8px” custom_margin=”1.5%||1.5%||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Statistics above taken from Zendesk,<\/a>\u00a0US News<\/a> & Hubspot<\/a><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”SECTION – Describe Your Day-to-Day Role” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”70px||70px||false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”HEADER – Describe Your Day-to-Day Role” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”HEADER – Day-to-day as a Senior Sales Manager” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0.1%||0.1%||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Tell us about a typical day as Senior Sales Manager.<\/h3>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ admin_label=”BODY – Describe Your Day-to-Day Role” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”BODY – Describe Your Day-to-Day Role” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\nMy day-to-day is hard to describe, as the role is so varied!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
One thing I enjoy about my role is that no day is ever the same. I know it’s a cliche, but it’s true. For example, yesterday I left my house at 6:30 am to catch a train to London for a prospect meeting. While on the train I was putting some finishing touches on the presentation I was planning to deliver – a big part of my role is preparation – and I didn’t get home again until about 8:30pm.<\/p>\n
However, today I started at 8:30am and have been working from home, catching up on admin, getting in touch with people, and meeting with the Inside Sales team.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”BODY – Describe Your Day-to-Day Role” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
It’s a very varied role; a mixture of internal meetings and being proactive and going out to see companies.<\/p>\n
\nI do a lot of preparation. I’ll put together presentations for each client, using my knowledge to make sure that they reflect the values and objectives of whoever I’m delivering them to. We don’t have an “off-the-shelf” offering at Gray Dawes – everything is bespoke and perfectly tailored to our clients’ needs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Some weeks I’ll be here, there, and everywhere meeting clients. Then we have the Business Travel Show at London Excel every year which is a hectic – but productive – three days.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”SECTION – How Much has Role Changed?” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f2f2f2″ custom_padding=”70px||70px||false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”HEADER -How Much has Role Changed?” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”148px” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”HEADER – How Much has Role Changed?” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0.1%||0.1%||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
How has your workday changed since the beginning of your career?<\/h3>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ admin_label=”BODY – HEADER – How much has your role and day-to-day changed?” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”533.2px” custom_padding=”6px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Black-Businessman-Using-Sales-Tech-IMAGE.jpg” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”526px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”BODY – How Much has Role Changed?” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0%||0%||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\nThe change has been huge, even if I only account for the journey of Gray Dawes!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Gray Dawes has gone through a massive period of growth over the last few years. The products have changed as well as the profile of the company. But COVID also had a huge impact on the way I now work.<\/p>\n
Before the pandemic, everything I did was in person. Back then, if I was making a call to a potential client and suggested arranging a Teams meeting, they would likely have had no clue what I was talking about! Meeting in person was just how things were done. Now, most of my meetings are over Teams. Rather than holding one or two meetings a day, I can have four or five – that’s a meeting every hour or two!<\/p>\n
\nEverything is also a lot more streamlined and new digital tools lead the way. However, I don’t think anything can replace meeting someone face-to-face. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
But even though a lot has changed, fundamentally people still just want to know that their travel and travellers are being looked after, that the service is great, and that their travel technology is the best it can be.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”SECTION – Favourite Part of Your Role?” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”29px||||false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”HEADER – Favourite Part of Your Role?” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”HEADER – Favourite Part of Your Role?” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-0.2%||-0.2%||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
What is the favourite part about your role? Do you have any career highlights?<\/h3>\n
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\nI love to meet with people, sit down with them, learn about who they are, and find out what’s important to them. That’s probably why I’ve been doing this job for so long!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The highlight of my career so far is attending a global awards ceremony in Hawaii; a culmination of the hard work of myself and my team at a previous company. Only the top nought point something of global companies managed to be nominated, so I was honoured by that.<\/p>\n
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At Gray Dawes, I love the fact that the company is moving upwards and I am enjoying all of the opportunities that has come from Gray Dawes going global. I also recently won the largest contract of my career. It was only afterwards that I found out it was the biggest opportunity\/contract that Gray Dawes has ever won and implemented. I’m really, really proud of that too.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/touch\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”More About Our High Touch Service” admin_label=”BUTTON – Global” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-70px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”53px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”SECTION – Advice to Break into Industry” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”1081.5px” custom_margin=”||-255px||false|false” custom_padding=”70px||70px||false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ admin_label=”BODY – Advice to Break into Industry” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”HEADER -Advice to Break into Industry” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-0.2%||-0.2%||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
What advice would you give someone looking to break into the industry?<\/h3>\n
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\nResearch the business travel industry! There are a lot of websites, magazines, and other online resources that can tell you more about what we do on a day-to-day basis.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Unless you work in business travel, you can’t ever really understand just how large it is. If I tell people what I do for a living, I still get asked: “Could you book me a flight to Tenerife for a weekend?” They don’t realise that there’s a whole world behind the scenes which you can only ever see if you’re in corporate travel.<\/p>\n
\nIn my experience, not a lot of people join the business travel industry and leave. They might move roles or companies, but they rarely put business travel behind them. At Gray Dawes, we’ve got people who have been at the company for 30+ years.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Business travel is a world that succeeds because there are just so many varied roles. My main advice to anyone looking to be a part of the industry is to research everything you can, because you may not realise the wealth of opportunity you have open to you!<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Plane-Taking-Off-Sunset-WEB.jpg” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”598px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”SECTION – x3 Quickfire Questions” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#5B8CB1″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(91,140,177,0.71) 0%|rgba(91,140,177,0.71) 100%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Navy-Pier.jpg” custom_padding=”50px||100px||false|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”ROW – x3 Quickfire Questions” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.26.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”HEADER – x3 Quickfire Question” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Finally, a few quickfire questions…<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Favourite place you have visited?” open=”on” open_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” closed_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” toggle_icon=”||fa||900″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”40px” open_toggle_icon=”||fa||900″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”40px” admin_label=”TOGGLE – Favourite Place” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”40px|45px|40px|40px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Oh, that’s difficult! It’s between Manilla in the Philippines and Cuba… I’d have to say Cuba. I visited a few years ago and we travelled around the island a lot. It was beautiful and the people were so welcoming. The food was spectacular too.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_toggle title=”Any interesting hobbies or stories?” open=”on” open_toggle_background_color=”#ffffff” closed_toggle_background_color=”#ffffff” toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”40px” open_toggle_icon=”||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”40px” admin_label=”TOGGLE – Hobbies\/Stories” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”40px|45px|40px|40px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
I play guitar. I grew up listening to Blink 182 which influenced my decision to become a singer in an emo-punk band. Then I realised I couldn’t sing!<\/p>\n
I was also on a dating show called Streetmate in the late 1990s. It was hosted by Davina McCall and I was in an episode with Scarlet Moffat when she was younger. The premise involved them taking a single man or woman around a city and asking random people on the street whether they would go on a date with them.<\/p>\n
I used to work in a flight centre shop in Birmingham when the producers of the show came in asking if we knew anyone who would fancy going on a date with the girl on the show. I said, “yeah, why not?”<\/p>\n
It was so random. I watched the episode when it aired months later and the woman was saying, “I’m game with anything, so long as they have hair,” and then I came around the corner!<\/p>\n
After the date, which was at a cocktail-making class, they asked us to exchange numbers and then put each of us in a separate taxi. The producers managed to mix up the taxis and I ended up at her flat and she ended up back at mine!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_toggle title=”Favourite food and drink?” open=”on” open_toggle_background_color=”#ffffff” closed_toggle_background_color=”#ffffff” toggle_icon=”||fa||900″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”40px” open_toggle_icon=”||fa||900″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”40px” admin_label=”TOGGLE – Food\/Drink” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”40px|45px|40px|40px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
I don’t drink. But my favourite food has to be a spaghetti bolognese or a roast dinner.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Blog Sign-Off (portfolio & back button)” _builder_version=”4.26.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” min_height=”1074.6px” custom_margin=”||-304px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.6″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_module=”244251″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”title: RELATED ARTICLES” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0%||5%||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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