Each week we shine the spotlight on a member of Dorset’s business community and ask him, or her, for answers to our part fun/part serious questionnaire. This time…

He’d review MP’s expenses if he was PM, fancies sharing a Carpool Karaoke style drive with Ariana Grande, chooses the hills and cliffs over Swanage and Studland as his favourite place in Dorset and is most definitely a steamed sponge pudding and custard man!

Andy James, Managing Director, Podcast Labs, takes the 20 Questions’ hotseat. 

Question: What is your favourite TV show?

Answer: It’s got to be Hart of Dixie. If Bluebell was a real town in Alabama, I’d have moved there already! Red Dwarf comes a close second.

Q: Who would you like to share a car with?

A: I think a Carpool Karaoke style drive with Ariana Grande would be pretty cool, or a long drive with Elon Musk debating future tech.

Q: The best bit of my job is…?

A: The variety of projects I get to work on and different areas of our business I can get involved with. I have a short attention span and get easily  bored and distracted so the variety helps keep my attention.

Q: And the worst…?

A: As the business is growing, I find it hard to let go of the practical side. I really enjoy being hands-on. Replacing studio builds with Accounting and HR is not my idea of fun so I think I’ll always keep bothering the team with my input!

Q: Who was your childhood hero?

A: I’ve always looked up to my Dad – he is very practical and a big tech addict so I’ve definitely got those traits from him.

Q: What’s your favourite smell?

A: WD40. Can you get WD40 scented candles?

Q: Where’s your favourite place in Dorset?

A: The hills and cliffs over Swanage and Studland.

Q: What advice would you give to anyone starting out on a career?

A: Think about what you want to do, why you want to do it, and what works best for you to achieve that. Everyone will have an opinion or advice on what you should do, how to do it, how they did it etc, and very rarely will it be helpful. It’s hard for anyone other than you to really understand what you are trying or wanting to achieve so do it the way you think it best. Likewise, my advice could be completely wrong so don’t listen to me either!

Q: What was your first record/CD?

A: Brimful of Asha by Cornershop. I remember it came in a cardboard case and I got a black Sony boombox from Makro with it.

Q: What gets you angry?

A: Orange in chocolate. Or orange in anything really. Why ruin something delicious by putting orange in it?

Q: Do you have a favourite piece of music?

A: It’s a tough choice, and depends on the mood, but the all time favourite would have to be 2112 by Rush.

Q: What are the qualities you look for in a new employee?

A: Proactive, ability to figure something out if they don’t know how to do it, a willingness to learn quickly, and an accuracy in everything they do. Not a lot really.

Q: What’s your favourite food or dish?

A: Almost any curry followed by treacle tart and clotted cream.

Q: Steamed sponge pudding and custard or a plate of melon?

A: That’s not really a question is it? Who would choose melon?

Q: Name the best thing about living/working in Dorset?

A: I work, and I am friends, with some really great people in Dorset. Not that we wouldn’t find that elsewhere, but I’m quite attached to the friends and family I’ve got around here.

Q: If you were Prime Minister for the day what would be the first thing you do?

A: Probably review MP’s expenses. I don’t know of any job where you get to claim as much money for the inconvenience of going to work as you do for actually working.

Q: What’s your biggest frustration?

A: Traffic – I just see it as a massive waste of time. If you total up all the collective time people waste in traffic and think about all the things you could do or achieve with that time.

Q:  Where’s your favourite holiday location?

A: Dubai, it’s an amazing place and I get to spend time with family out there too.

Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?

A: Ten years is way too far in the future for me. I couldn’t tell you where I see myself next week! I’m very impatient and impulsive so not a good future planner.

Q: What would you like to be remembered for?

A: Honestly, I haven’t decided yet. I would hope people remember me as a decent and honest person though.