Welcome to Spotlight, Parklife’s new feature. Every month Parklife will interview a different Chineham Park employee to give you an exclusive insight into other occupiers on the park.
This month Parklife put Laurie Pruvost from Hello Paris Ltd in the Spotlight.
Who do you work for and what do they do?
I am the managing director of Hello Paris, which sells Paris extras to private customers and small tour operators. Anything from a travel card to travel on public transport, a museum pass to visit lots of museums without queuing, tickets to glittery cabaret shows and Disney.
What does your job role involve?
Oh God, where shall I start? I have to make sure we have enough business to maintain employment mainly. I am responsible for the jobs of eight people. It is a big responsibility. I have to maintain my customer’s database, get more, travel and attend exhibitions to do so, juggling with money and the exchange rate is another daunting task. Honestly, I would need three pages to tell you all the things involved in running two companies.
What do you like about working on Chineham Park?
I like the environment, the landscape gardens, the gym, the nursery for my staff, Dayer’s restaurant and take away. But, mainly it is the environment. I visited so many cheaper offices, but they were either facing a scrap yard, behind a railway line or next to a builder’s merchant. I thought my staff would hate it and I like to have a happy workforce.
Which Chineham Park amenities do you use?
I use all of the amenities. I go to Dayer’s both to the restaurant and for sandwiches regularly, one of my girls has put her three year old son in the nursery and I am now a member of Fitness First as is my daughter.
What do you do on your lunch break?
Lunch break? What lunch break? I do not have time, but I do go to yoga on a Thursday.
What are your interests outside of work?
My main interest outside of work is my motorcycle, which is my passion. Fighter planes, aircraft carriers, submarines. Ask me to choose between going to an air show or the shops.
Are you a collector of anything?
I collect fighter plane keyrings and pins. I have a Typhoon and an F-117 keyring and B2, Typhoon and Blackbird pins.
What is the best present you have ever received?
The best present I have ever received was a sat nav for my motorbike.
What is the worst present you have ever received?
The worst present I have ever received were two ugly porcelain figures representing a marquis and marquise. Yuk!
What single thing would improve your life?
To have more me time would improve my life.
What is the greatest lesson you ever learned?
Rationalise! If something is not done in time, it is not the end of the world. Look around you, people are dying.
What motivates you?
My daughter motivates me. Everything I do today is for her tomorrow.
What is your motto in life?
I will do this! Whatever it takes!
What is the first thing you notice about people?
The first thing I notice is whether they are smiling or not.
Which TV show would you like to be in and why?
I would like to be in Megastructures. I love all things big and I would absolutely love to be able to follow a reporter on a mission about something enormous.
If you went on Mastermind what would be your specialist subject?
My specialist subject would be fighter planes.
Who would you like to be for a day and why?
I would like to be the person in charge of the US Air Force so I could spend one day flying in a B2 bomber.
You have won a round the world trip with five stopovers. Where would they be?
The USA, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia and the Galapagos Islands.
What is your least favourite mode of transport and why?
My least favourite mode of transport is a bus. They take forever to get anywhere, stop everywhere and are uncomfortable.
What is your dream job?
My job is my dream job.
What would be your epitaph?
I will never surrender.
If you would like to be in the Spotlight, please email parklife@chinehampark.co.uk
