Member Article

North East festive focus with: Richard Lane, durhamlane

Richard Lane, Managing Partner at Newcastle-based sales and training firm durhamlane, is the latest North East business leader to join our quickfire December interview series.

Your business

If you had to choose one thing - what are you most proud of your company achieving this year, why?

This year has been incredibly exciting for us at durhamlane; acquiring an established leadership company, and sustaining our rapid growth.

Best of all this year, has been our expansion into new premises in Southampton. We have built a great team who can effectively represent the organisation and our clients regardless of their location.

What was the single biggest challenge faced by your firm in 2016?

It sounds like a nice problem to have, but because the company is growing at such a quick pace, it has been difficult to keep up with the all the recruitment.

We work with a fantastic team of talented people at durhamlane, where we’re especially passionate about giving university graduates the best start to their working lives.

Can you tell us one thing your business is doing in 2017 that really excites you?

Next year is set to be another bumper one. We’ll continue to advance our rapid growth strategy; making our leadership programmes available online to complement our face-to-face offer; launching our growth programme for leaders in tech companies; and opening more durhamlane offices around the country – our next plan is opening premises in Cambridge.

Your region

Which North East firm has impressed you the most this year, why?

There are too many to mention! What never ceases to surprise me is that there are many great businesses that providing great employment opportunities that simply go under the radar. So here’s a festive thanks to the unsung business leaders in the region!

Are there any emerging businesses in the region that’ve caught your eye this year that you’ve been previously unaware of?

The North East has a great business community, we are all guilty of not promoting ourselves enough.

Is there an industry or sector of the North East business community which you expect to really take off next year?

The continuing evolution of the North East as a software hub is really important, organisations such as Sunderland Software City are helping to drive the North East as a hub of creativity.

Yourself

What was your first job?

Selling scratch cards.

If you weren’t doing what you do, is there a job you’d love to have?

I was always destined to be a rock star - that was what was supposed to happen.

What do you do on Christmas day?

Like most people, we spend time with the family, have a lovely meal and hopefully, at some point, manage to get outside and get some exercise.

Thanks Richard.