STEVEN BROOMHEAD is chief executive of the Northwest Regional Development Agency, which exists to improve the economic interests of the region.
5.45am: Normal early start. Respond to six overnight emails. Quick yoghurt for breakfast, kiss the wife goodbye and travel to Blackburn College, listening to Radio 4 on the way, to discuss higher education opportunities in East Lancashire.
En-route, talk (hands free) to my chairman, Bryan Gray. Each day we have an early "keep in touch" conversation. Make calls to my directors – we all start early.
7.45am: Arrive at Blackburn College. Discuss the opportunity for developing a higher education facility in Blackburn.
9.55am: Arrive at our head office in Warrington. I normally spend two to three days a week in the office and the rest of the time in the region or in London. It's important I show "visible leadership" when in the office so I try to spend as much time as possible by "management by walking about" to talk to colleagues. It keeps me in touch with operational issues and the big strategic challenges.
Two piles of mail require a response, one other requires distribution. Answer 30 emails. Speak to inward investment team regarding a potential investment from China into Wigan.
10.30am: Meeting of my Executive Management Board. This morning we discussed several key issues; the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, we will have to tighten our belts from 2008 onwards; review business plan performance to check on our investment against targets; review our investment performance in Merseyside (we have £140m invested in projects on Merseyside); and we comment on the spend performance of Liverpool Science Park and the Arena project. We also discussed our plans for simplifying business support. I ensure the meeting ends with a clarity of action.
12.45pm: Meeting directors of Warrington Chamber of Commerce for a discussion on local/regional economic matters.
1.15pm: Drive to Cheshire County Council to meet their senior management team. On arrival, I sample some Cheshire apple juice and the Cheshire blue and Mollington cheeses, offered to me by the North West Fantastic Food Partnership. Food and drink production is one of the key growth industries in the North West. During the meeting, we discuss Capital of Culture and its implications for Cheshire; European Funding (there are changes on the horizon for Merseyside and Cheshire); the second Mersey crossing; Crewe Gateway; and the Cheshire Year of Gardens 2008.
3.10pm: Depart for Warrington. On the way, make and receive calls regarding Skelmersdale College and its future; the Board meeting of The Mersey Partnership and issues with the NHS Primary Care Trust in Lancashire and Warrington.
3.30pm: Arrive in Warrington. Answer all correspondence including 38 e-mails. Write briefing notes on today's meetings. I'm a great believer in sharing information.
Meet my PA Janis. First we catch up on what she did at the weekend and then we review tomorrow's agenda (visit to Liverpool and then Barrow in Furness). Every day I complete the basic admin, reserve some reading for any train journeys, and for the past 10 years I have also reserved Saturday mornings for catching up on key reading.
I have an understanding wife who is supportive of what is a demanding and regular 75+ hours a week. My only hobby is Rugby League (Warrington Wolves) although the hobby became a business matter when three years ago I became deputy chairman.
5.15pm: Talk to my chairman on the day's events/issues. Go for a quick shower and brush-up. Mobile phone rings while in the shower. Have discussion with an MP regarding the regional casino development in Manchester, I explain that the decision although challenging for Blackpool is good for the region. More than once in the past I have tried to use the mobile as a piece of soap by mistake.
5.50pm: Travel to Manchester for a Chinese New Year event with the Chinese Consul General for the North West. It's an important networking event as the Chinese community in the region is very successful and has excellent connections in China to maximise our trade and inward investment to the region. I meet four key business contacts who I will follow up regarding manufacturing, health products, information technology, and tourism.
I slowly eat a 10-course meal. Event finishes at 10.45pm and I head home arriving at 11.40pm, have a quick coffee and respond to 21 emails. I spend two to three nights a week at conferences or meetings. It's all part and parcel of doing this job and working for the economic interests of the region in order to grow our £106bn economy, and I find most days fulfilling.
Set the alarm for 5.45am as my first meeting tomorrow starts at 8am in Liverpool.
