Partner Article

Getting to know... Neil Henry

We know you as the founder of Option3 Logic and a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, but who is the person behind the title? Tell us a little about what makes you tick…
I’ve always been fascinated by hierarchy! I often wondered, how do people get to where they are in life and in business? How do you become the supervisor or the manager or even the owner? I think I now know the answer! Hard work and determination. 

Did you always want to work in your industry?
I started at the very bottom on a YTS scheme in 1988. Little did I know then that I would spend the next 35 years in the air conditioning and refrigeration industry, 15 years as an engineer and 20 as a part business owner. The truth was, until my interview in 1988, I wasn’t even aware of the industry which was to become my career for life so to speak. The experience gained over these 30 years gave me the ability to start Option3 Logic Ltd, where I provide a service to mentor and coach business owners through start up, scale up and exit strategy. 

What’s the best bit about your job? And the worst?
The best part of being a business owner was the ability to help shape the lives of the apprentices we employed over the 20 years, many of whom are still in the industry, some work abroad become have even started their own businesses in the industry! 

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
I think my greatest achievement in business is the success of HLA Services Ltd with my partners. Over the last 23 years we were able to built a great a business which would not only survive the turbulence of 2008, Brexit and Covid but would flourish and stand today as a market leader in the region. 

How do you relax outside of work?
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family, my partner Wendy, daughter Beth and our dog Winnie. I enjoy watching sport of all kinds especially Sunderland AFC and also travelling the world. We were recently lucky enough to spend a month in Australia which was amazing! 

Tell us something about you we didn’t know…
My close friends will know my guilty pleasure is that I’m a massive fan of the band Simple Minds and have seen them live far too many times to admit!

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Entrepreneurs' Forum .