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…

She gets angry at people being bullish, rude or unkind, her favourite dish is a Sunday roast, she’d like to share a car with James Corden and counts home as her favourite place in Dorset because that’s where her children are. 

Heidi Skirrow, Managing Director, Absolute Works Dorset, takes the 20 Questions’ hotseat.

Question: What is your favourite TV show?

Answer: ‘Silent Witness’ although sometimes it gives me bad dreams.

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

A: James Cordon because he’d make me laugh and I wouldn’t be the only one singing at the top of my voice!

Q: The best bit of my job is…?

A: Meeting lots of new people and being able to take some of their stress away by dealing with their people processes and problems on their behalf, reducing risk and keeping them within the scope of the law.

Q: And the worst…?

A: I love what I do, love meeting new people and am great at what I do but ‘selling’ my service to people and even worse cold contacting people makes me uncomfortable.  Have to keep telling myself to ‘embrace it’.

Q: Who was your childhood hero?

A: Aunt Sally from Worzel Gummidge (can’t believe I’m admitting that) and Joey Tempest, lead singer of the band ‘Europe’.  Can’t beat a bit of soft rock.

Q: What’s your favourite smell?

A: Freshly cut grass on a summer’s day.

Q: Where’s your favourite place in Dorset?

A: My home….. because that’s where my children are.

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

A: Find out what you are good at and combine it with doing what you enjoy. Life is too short to get stuck on a career path that doesn’t excite you.  Work hard, be yourself, know your worth and network where you can. Listen to feedback from those around you and use it to be even better. Work with people and a company who care about supporting you to grow and develop.

Q: What was your first record/CD?

A: Oh dear – this is embarrassing.  ‘I Want To Wake Up With You’ by Boris Gardiner.

Q: What gets you angry?

A: People being bullish, rude or unkind.

Q: Do you have a favourite piece of music?

A: Apart from the tunes blasting out of my eight year old’s bedroom such as Juice WRLD and Trevor Daniel which I do actually quite like, I absolutely love ‘Gabriel’s Oboe’ by Ennio Morricone.

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

A: Honesty, integrity, openness, self-motivated, proactive, conscientious, hard-working with a good sense of humour and fun, all mixed together in equal measure.

Q: What’s your favourite food or dish?

A: A good old Sunday roast.

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

A: Sponge pudding and custard.

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

A: Being close to my sisters (and mum). We lived here as children and all moved back to settle here at various points through the years bringing us even closer. It really does have a great business community too.

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

A: Put more money into measures which would reduce child poverty. 30% of children in the UK lived in poverty last year, that’s nine in every 30 in an average classroom! This year especially, with Covid, will be extremely tough for many more.

Q: What’s your biggest frustration?

A: Can I name a few of the top of my head!? People that have real potential but behaviourally get in their own way. Schools struggling to provide high quality education for our children due to lack of funding. My five year old consistently refusing to go to bed. Oh and dog owners that don’t pick up their dog’s poo!

Q:  Where’s your favourite holiday location?

A: Israel has definitely been my favourite destination, although I love the Caribbean Islands too especially Grenada and Barbados.

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

A: Happy with a good balance between work and play meaning a thriving business and a thriving family.

Q: What would you like to be remembered for?

A: Being a great mum, a loyal friend and showing kindness and compassion to all.