Nicola Ech-Channa, Marketing and Communications Director at Synergy Car and Van Leasing, is the latest regional professional in the hot seat as the p.ublished group of newspapers gives her just 10 minutes to answer our 10 burning questions.


What does a typical working day for you involve?

What I enjoy the most about my role at Synergy is the variety. Marketing Director may be my job title, but like many working in SMEs, I wear many different hats.

The Directors meet every Monday to catch up on the previous week and share any issues, actions and events that are coming up that week. As a senior leadership team, we work closely together to support each other, manage the business and help it to grow.

In my role, I work closely with the marketing team and help to manage our agency partners, with whom we work very closely to deliver our strategy. Most days will involve at least a meeting with one of these to catch up and work on each area to keep raising Synergy’s profile

The other part of my job is overseeing the financial compliance and HR function of the business. Combined with my marketing work, it creates a busy, but varied job.

What makes your company special?

I am very lucky to work with a great team, many of whom have been with us for a long time.. As a team, we all pull together to get the things done that need to be done, and I think it comes across in our work that we care about our customers, about the business and each other.

We describe ourselves as professional and friendly, and while we take our jobs seriously, we don’t take ourselves too seriously.

Do you have any business rules that you swear by?

As much as I can, I try not to deal in absolutes, such as “always” and “never”, as in many cases, there are different viewpoints and situations to take into account.

I prefer to take a balanced view and then make the right decision for the business.

I also make a point of communicating clearly and directly. So many misunderstandings can be avoided with simple, clear communication.

Do you dress up or down for work?

We have a casual dress code at Synergy, so I usually opt for jeans and a top.

Recently, we did a Synergy-branded hoodie for members of the team who wanted one. They have proved to be really popular amongst the staff, especially with winter approaching. It’s nice that the team are proud to wear them!

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

Be more confident in your own ability, trust your instincts, and don’t worry that everything has to be perfect.

One of the things that I have learned over the years is that if you wait until everything is perfect, you will miss out on opportunities.

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

We are lucky to be based in Harrogate, which is a beautiful town with some great local bars and restaurants. Over the years, these have been great for team nights out.

Next year, Synergy is celebrating its 20th anniversary. We have a fantastic event planned to reward our team, celebrate our success and look forward to the future. Plans are currently top secret, so I can’t say too much more at this stage.

How do you prefer to travel for business?

I live in York, and we are lucky that we have regular trains and can be in London in under two hours. However, if there isn’t a direct train to where I need to go, I prefer to drive. That way, I can be in control of the journey and enjoy an audiobook.

What’s your favourite place in Yorkshire to relax?

There is a fabulous place for wild swimming in various lakes just outside York, which I love to go to in the late evenings after work in the summertime.

Now that Winter is approaching, and the temperatures are dropping, I am using the wood-fired saunas and building up my resilience to the cold water. It is so refreshing and feels a million miles from the day-to-day routine, and only a very short drive away from home.

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

We’re spoilt in Yorkshire for great places to eat. Personally, I love the Shambles food court that sits in the world-famous Shambles Market in York. There’s a wide range of street food from across the world, and the outdoor seating on shared tables means that there is always a great atmosphere.

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

I am originally from Derbyshire but have lived in York for over 20 years, so it is my home now. I enjoy travelling, but I love the architecture and history of York, the surrounding countryside, and the brisk air that we have here.



Want to feature in our 10 in 10 column? Then contact our business editor business@p.ublished.com