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5:09 AM 19th February 2020
business

10 In 10: Adam Richardson

 
Adam Richardson
Adam Richardson
Adam Richardson is the co-founder of South Yorkshire-based commercial development company, Priority Space. He and Lee Buchanan set up the business nine years ago to develop, high-spec and sustainable business units for SMEs across the north. Yorkshire projects currently include sites in Scarborough, Selby and Hull.

He is the latest regional business professional in the hot seat as The Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria Times gives him just 10 minutes to answer our 10 burning questions.

What does a typical working day for you involve?

I’m usually up around 6 (or a bit earlier if my son has his way!). As my wife is a teacher and has to be in work early, I get the kids ready for school and drop them off. Then I’m either at my desk and on the phone or on the road traveling between sites across the country. I keep a diary and to do list but it can be tricky sticking to this as the property development industry is so fast-moving things tend to pop up which need dealing with straight away.

What makes your company special?

We specialise in building small industrial and retail units that are available for sale or to let - you generally find other developers focus on either selling or letting but we encourage occupiers to do either. We focus on the needs of SME’s but although we build relatively small we’re not afraid to think big. We operate nationally and Lee and myself both have backgrounds in region-wide regeneration and so take a broad view. We work with local authorities, government agencies and larger developers to develop sites which support economic growth in communities.

Do you have any business rules that you swear by?

Work hard and persevere. There are always issues that creep up unexpectedly but it’s important to knuckle down and resolve them the best way you can. You create your own luck.

Adam Richardson
Adam Richardson
Do you dress up or down for work?

Well, I think the majority of people have dressed down during the lockdowns. I’m generally casual if I’m working in my home office. If I’m going to a meeting, l wear a suit and shirt.

What piece of advice would you give your 18-year old self?

Avoid Jack Daniels!

What’s your favourite Yorkshire venue for an event or team away day?

For me, it has to be Oakwell. I’m a Barnsley season ticket holder of 25 years standing and would always get a buzz out of a business event there.

How do you prefer to travel for business?

I prefer to get the train to our sites in Hereford, Liverpool, Hull and Glasgow and also travel by train from my village to the office in Sheffield. It allows me to work whilst travelling.

What’s your favourite place in Yorkshire to relax?

I love exploring the East Coast and particularly areas around Whitby, Filey and Scarborough though spending time in the Dales in a remote cottage also allows me to relax.

Where is your favourite place to eat in Yorkshire, and what dish do you recommend?
If I am having a breakfast meeting, it has to be Yummy Yorkshire in Denby Dale. This dairy farm diversified into selling ice cream (which the kids love!) and then added an excellent restaurant. I’ve met many a potential clients there. For something really special, it has to be the Three Acres at Emley.

What do you miss most about Yorkshire when you’re away?

It’s probably the landscape I miss the most. I had a short spell of living and working in London and craved the Yorkshire countryside.