On the Spot with David Colgrave

David Colgrave is the chief executive of recruitment consultancy Ardent, the new name for ECHM, which has offices in Leeds and Manchester.

What was your first job?

In the furniture department of the Co-op in Hemel Hempstead, selling beds, sofas and reclining chairs to elderly ladies.

If you weren't in your present job what would you like to do?

I would spend the winter in the Alps as a ski instructor, the spring and autumn in the Caribbean as a diving instructor and the summer in Yorkshire, resting.

What was your worst mistake?

Not being brave enough to have my own business sooner. I may well have missed out through my "entrepreneurial inertia" but recruitment is a vibrant, rapidly evolving sector with many, many opportunities still to be explored.

What is your ideal day away from the office?

It might sound a tad mawkish but I love being on holiday with my family. It doesn't really matter where, because it is the time together that is important.

Name one person you would like to have dinner with and why?

Sir Clive Woodward. I'd want to know more about building winning teams and a winning mentality, and I love rugby. I did sit on the next table to him once, at the Belfry, and while I didn't ask him any questions, my colleagues and I did sing to him; he was most appreciative, I think, and particularly liked our rendition of Jealous Guy … he is a big fan of Roxy Music, apparently.

What was your best subject at school?

English. Expressing yourself through words and reading great works are things we all take for granted and should do more of.

What are your hobbies?

I ski, I go scuba diving, I ride motorbikes, I play the guitar (really, really badly), I try to go to the gym regularly and I play golf (almost as badly as the guitar). I find it difficult to focus my spare energies on one particular activity. I find a new hobby, get reasonably adept at it and move on to the next one. I am not sure what that says about me.

What would you do if you won the lotto?

My wife and daughter would insist that I buy a large farm with a livery yard. My son would insist that it had a moto-cross circuit and a string of bikes. After looking after the key decision-makers, I would indulge my dream of having an apartment in the Alps and a beach villa with dive school in Antigua. Clearly, the rest would be spent on airline tickets.

What is your top time-saving tip?

Don't worry, it won't help and it uses more energy and time than you realise.

What is your favourite time of the day?

Early morning, I walk our dog, Murphy (he looks like a pint of Guinness) every morning at 6.15. We live in the Yorkshire Dales in beautiful, inspirational countryside. I do a lot of thinking and Murphy is a good listener.

What would your epitaph be?

He brought a smile to many faces and leaves fond memories in many places.

From Yorkshire Post, 24 June 2008.

For further Information

Name: David Colgrave
Company: Ardent Selection
Telephone: 0113 237 2890
Email: david.colgrave@ardentselection.com