Set yourself a goal, and trust in your own abilities.

(From Nottingham Evening Post)

Starting Out: Graham Darnell, Chief executive of Notts-based specialist logistics business ClearwayLeaving school at 16 is not the ideal way to start a successful career but that's what happened to me. Instead of going on to get a degree, I went to work for NatWest in Darlington.

Working my way through the departments for five years made me realise I had an aptitude for numbers. I wanted to get involved in the business world, so I decided to become an accountant. Not having a degree, though, meant that no one in my immediate vicinity would take me on.

Instead I packed up all my worldly possessions and with my then girlfriend moved down to Hampshire where I got a training contract with Grant Thornton. Two years on I had qualified, married my girlfriend and started working for PKF where after four years, one of our clients, Ready To Assemble, approached me to become their financial controller.

Being in control of the logistics and finances really engaged me and I enjoyed my time there immensely. However in 1994 I was lured back to the North East by what was then known as Hutchinson Telecom, who were looking for a financial controller with logistics experience.

Hutchinson Telecom evolved into the marketing led business Orange, and my role was to put into action all their initiatives. From storing, controlling and delivering mobiles phones across the UK, my role developed to include a European perspective working as part of a bid team to acquire mobile phone licences in Holland and Switzerland. Three years later, though, it was time to switch from poacher to gamekeeper as I became general manager for Irish logistics company IEC. There was a good deal of cash being poured into Ireland from the EC and the company had just won a contract to distribute Dell computers around the UK. Times were good and within a year I had become managing director.

Over the next three years I am proud to say that under my stewardship the business grew by over 150% to a turnover of GBP48m, primarily by selling a good proposition to customers.