Dean Betteridge, operations and strategic lead at Meson Electrical Services, is the latest regional professional in the hot seat as the p.ublished group of newspapers gives him just 10 minutes to answer our 10 burning questions.

What does a typical working day for you involve?

My working days are a real mix of meeting new and existing customers. Often, we are brought in by a new customer to help with a specific challenge, such as a technically complex commercial solar panel installation that other companies may not be able to deliver. My role is to find the most effective solution. Every project we do is bespoke to every customer, and often my day involves finding solutions or giving prospective customers an innovative new way of doing something.

When I’m not with customers, I look for ways in which Meson can continue to grow and offer new services. With customers including F1 teams, airports and restaurants, it is never dull!

What makes your company special?

The fact that we’re not your average electrical contractor. We offer customers end-to-end electrical services, and this makes Meson stand out from the crowd. We can do everything from the design and installation of complex control panels to the inspection and maintenance of electrical installations, and we are one of only a few contractors in the UK accredited to work in hazardous areas. It’s this specialist knowledge and experience that has led to us working on specialist fuel control systems at several airports and for organisations such as Jaguar Land Rover and Red Bull Racing.

Do you have any business rules that you swear by?

I don’t have a mantra or anything like that, but I always aim to bring clarity to complexity. We deal with many intricate projects and pieces of machinery, and we are working with people in both technical and non-technical roles, so we need to be able to communicate complex information effectively to all those people.

My other rule is to never oversell. We have long-standing customer relationships that are built on trust. It has taken time to get to this point, and we want to be seen by everyone we work with as a company that can be trusted. I’m always open and realistic with customers about what we can deliver.

Do you dress up or down for work?

It depends on the day and what I am doing. If I am meeting clients, then I will dress smartly, but if I am working from home, I tend to go for something more relaxed.

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

Build meaningful relationships. You need to be out there, networking, meeting people and creating contacts as people mean more than titles.

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

It has to be Franco's at Thorpe Park for food. The whole team love it there. The food is great, there’s a good atmosphere, and it is just a great place to go and spend time with the team.

How do you prefer to travel for business?

We work on customer sites all over the country, and often they are easier to get to by car. If I’m travelling more locally, I will jump on the train.

What’s your favourite place in Yorkshire to relax?

As a family, we love going to the Dales as it offers space to relax and explore together. We were glamping there recently and had a great time.

Where is your favourite place to eat in Yorkshire, and what dish do you recommend?

I’m a fan of Zoya, an Indian restaurant that I've been going to for ten years now. I
like to try different things, but the Nawabi Khana, with its blend of 21 spices, is a favourite. It’s a bit on the spicy side, so it might not be for everyone!

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

A good cup of tea with a scone and clotted cream. The food is so good in Yorkshire, with lots of fresh produce and butchers that are better than you will find anywhere else.



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