DAVID MAYES is the principal partner in Mayes Business

Partnership in Accrington, which provides businesssupport services to small and medium sized businesses

JOB I became a paper boy at 13 in Accrington and earned 15s. a week. I had pocket money up until then, but as soon as I started earning, my dad stopped it and taught me to stand on my own two feet. My uncle told me about unit trusts so I started investing when I was about 16. I've never smoked so the rest didn't go on fags. Although I can't remember what I spent it on, I remember I enjoyed spending it.

FULL-TIME JOB

I became an articled clerk with Hopkinson and Pollards in Accrington in 1966 when I was 16. I had failed my GCEs - I needed six and I only got three. I had to resit them in the November and the day I got them I walked out of school never to go back. I had no intention of taking A levels and wanted to earn some money. I got £4 a week, but had to pay a stamp so I was left with £3.11s. 8d. For the first six weeks, I had to learn to add up. It was before the days of calculators so we had to add up columns of pounds, shillings and pence. I was good at maths, but I soon realised I was not good at adding up.

CAR

It was a Ford Prefect and it cost me £45 when I was 19 years old. I insured it and three days later made a claim after someone drove into the back of me. The broker couldn't believe it. As soon as I got my licence I taught my dad to drive which, I suppose, is the wrong way round. I only used the car around town. It was not worth risking going any further because the car was knackered - the headlights were terrible and I couldn't see a damn thing at night.

BUSINESS

My first business was this one, which I set up in 1974 when I was 24. By then I was a chartered accountant. I'd qualified by working 40 hours a week and studying a correspondence course in the evenings and weekends - but if you want something, you do it and I wanted to be a chartered accountant. At least when I set up in business I was working shorter hours, although I didn't have a proper holiday for three years. I worked from home for the first 18 months and then moved into premises round the corner from where we are now.

COCK-UP

Luckily, there haven't been any major cock-ups, although we all make mistakes. The biggest lesson to learn when you start up in business is to run it as a business and not as a job. Running a business is completely different from just doing something that you are good at, whether is plumbing or accountancy. I made a lot of mistakes along the way, like most people, then I decided to go through the business development route and I learned a hell of a lot.

BIG DEAL

Acquiring an accountancy practice, Jas Wilkinson and Yates, which is where we are now. I wrote to them and asked if they wanted to sell the business. I could see it was struggling. It was an old established firm with some very good clients, but they were leaving because it was getting a poor reputation. The principal was in his 70s and, although the business wasn't for sale, when I came up with an offer he jumped at it. I was 27 at the time.

HOME

A terraced house in a cobbled street off Willow Lane and it cost me £2,000 in 1974.

EMPLOYEE

Norman Snodgrass, who is now my partner and co-director. I know it sounds like Blind Date or something, but I was introduced to him by a mutual business friend in 1976. Norman wanted to have his own business so I employed him on the basis that if things worked out he would become a partner. He's still here because I forgot to give him his P45. Actually we are now good friends as well as business partners.

WIFE

Actually I separated from my wife in 1985 and we've been happily married ever since.

MILLION

I'm not there yet but I will get there in the next 10 years.