Name:
Charlie Mullins
Age:
52
Company:
Company turnover:
£16m
First job:
Bunking off school to help a local plumber before becoming an apprentice at age 15.
Dream job:
I’m doing it now – running my own successful business that creates employment and offers excellent service. Once a plumber, always a plumber. Common sense tells me to do what I’m good at!
Car:
Bentley Azure convertible.
Economy, business or first class:
Economy or private jet – nobody likes sitting still on a plane for hours, so can’t see why I’d want a slightly bigger place to sit still in, for a lot more money. Easyjet is a great way to get to my villa in Marbella. And if I want to push the boat out, putting the family on a private jet makes more financial sense than going first class – and it’s much better, too.
Most extravagant purchase:
My villa in Spain, although I’m looking out for a Drophead Rolls Royce, which might take over first place if I can get it past “the accountant”…
Most-played song on your iPod:
(iPod? That’s one of those gadgets for music, right?) Whatever’s on the wireless!
Best business book:
‘Walking On Water’ by Brian Clough
Worst business moment:
Leaving school at 15. I should have quit and gone plumbing at 14!
Proudest business moment:
Restructuring Pimlico Plumbers after almost going to the wall in the 80s and building things up to the £16m per annum company it is today.
Your business mentor:
Bill Ellis, the plumber I used to work for when I should have been in school. He was the only guy, in the area I grew up in, with his own car and enough money to go on holiday.
Next big thing:
Getting hold of more of the market share in London.
Share this story
