IT’S summer, 1977, and Sue Lamb leaves North Staffordshire Polytechnic with a degree in business studies and full of entrepreneurial energy.

By the following autumn she joined forces with two family contacts to form Solarwall, specialising in cavity wall and loft insulation.

More than 30 years later, and now managing director, she has grown Clifton-based Solarwall into a thriving £6 million turnover company, specialising in energy efficiency, its 100 employees serving 100,000 customers across Yorkshire, South Humberside and Teesside.

Which job (other than your own) would you like to have and why?

Travel journalist– so I could get loads of free holidays. Not sure if I would be any good as I am a very positive person so wouldn’t be able to criticise the bad places!

Greatest achievement?

Working with Grant Henderson (head of renewables division) and the team and getting Solarwall to where it is now. Also having my daughter, Jem, who quite surprised me at how responsible I am as a parent.

Biggest mistake?

Taking too many years to realise the strength of my employees and empowering them to use their ideas and take the company forward.

What makes you most angry?

Poor customer service, miserable and impolite shop assistants. A smile costs nothing and could be the highlight to someone’s day.

What makes you laugh?

So many things. Listening to the office staff at 2pm – the witching hour when they start the most obscure conversations that always end up revolving round food.

What fools do you suffer least?

Business people who are going to set the world alight with their ideas and tell you how good they are and then they don’t deliver and you realise they are just wasters.

Whom do you most admire and why?

I read the autobiography of round-the-world yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur and was in awe of her achievements. She is so positive, single-minded and competitive and now devotes some of her time to sailing with children who suffer from cancer or leukemia.

What do you need to make life complete?

Life is pretty complete right now, but it would be nice for Jem to get into university and for Becky (step-daughter) to have a healthy baby in October.

How do you relax?

Go to the gym and don’t talk to anybody! I love watching Jem rallying with her dad, Peter, otherwise nicknamed Yuk whose business is Yukspeed Rally Spares; attending horse racing with friends and family; and Sunday lunches which I cook.

Why do you make a difference?

I am not a born leader, but try to make sure people can bring out the best in themselves to achieve what they want.

Name the organisation (apart from your own!) that you see as closest to perfection and why.

Instafibre Consortium – our material suppliers. They always deliver on time, are fun to work with and have a similar outlook to business as ourselves.

Favourite record?

I have a very eclectic taste in music, loving all the stuff from my youth – from punk to the soul-disco, but at the moment I really love Black Eyed Peas’ Boom Boom Boom!

Favourite holiday destination?

Fair Weather Skiing – I love the mountains, snow, fondue, Desperado beer, vin chaud and loads of friends and relatives with me.

Your epitaph

This life was pretty good to me. Wonder what the next one is going to be like!