Biography

Richard is married to Samantha and has two children, Mathew aged 9 and Annabelle aged 7.

Richard was born the middle brother of three to a working class family in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. His father, Peter, was a production manager in the chemicals industry and his mother, Christine, a housewife in his early years but who went on later to a successful career in the education of disabled children. Now, his older brother Stephen is Chief Financial Officer of a large US organization and his younger brother, Robert, a political advisor to a shadow cabinet Minister.

His early years at school saw him walking in the shadow of his much more academic older brother. A common taunt by teachers was 'you're not a bit like your Stephen are you' to which Richard would reply, 'is he anything like me'. Always a keen sportsman, Richard was captain of the school rugby team and swam for his town at regional level. In the dated educational system of banding, Richard managed to squeeze through to the 'A' stream at the local Catholic High School, All Saints. Saturdays were spent working on Hemsworth market selling bedding remnants and Sundays were spent doing a double paper-round.

After five academically mediocre years, with every school report saying 'could do better' Richard left with only two 'O' levels and secured a position as an apprentice with local engineering firm Hopkinsons Ltd. On his first day, he realized he had made an enormous error and should have left then. However, sheer bloody mindedness and a refusal to accept that his parents had being right all along resulted in three long years in a job he hated.

At the age of nineteen Richard left Hopkinsons and joined the West Yorkshire Police as a constable. Being naturally rebellious made for a difficult time in the Police, however he thoroughly enjoyed his time there and had grandiose ideas about righting wrongs and in his words 'catching the bad guys'. After nearly three years in the job, however, Richard resigned and set up his first business Armco Security Ltd. After two years Richard's business was flourishing and he decided a career in business was one he really wanted to pursue.

As a twenty two year old in business Richard made all the mistakes any other young, ambitious and fairly reckless person might. Fast cars and expensive nights out trying to impress resulted in the liquidation of one of his companies. A harsh but necessary lesson, he claims, which has improved his attitude towards tight financial control. Over the following 8 years Richard tried his hand at a number of businesses. From owning and renting property to ownership of a Hairdressing Salon and a small chain of sandwich shops, whilst always retaining his first and steadiest business Armco.

Again with his philosophy of wanting to improve things for others, at the age of 24 Richard stood as a councilor in his local ward of Almondbury. An unfortunate episode where, quite gullibly he allowed himself to be poached by the Conservative party from his original party, The Liberals. Richard was then seen as a turncoat. Narrowly missing election by only 200 votes, he would claim with hindsight that it was probably 'for the best' that he was not elected as his naivety and ignorance would not have helped either himself or his constituents.

In 1999 Armco were a creditor of a small fireplace company who had just gone into liquidation. This opened a new opportunity and Richard bought the machinery and factory from the liquidators. This was the start of Fired Up Corporation Ltd. Adam has gone from employing 10 people with a turnover of £500,000 in its first year to employing 300 internationally with manufacturing operations in the UK and China with a turnover of circa £15,000,000. It lists blue chip high street retailers amongst its clients and runs a direct to retail consumer business. In 2007 Richard launched, ForSaleInChina.com which will make use of his extensive business contacts in China to provide introductions for Western traders looking to take advantage of the opportunities available to them in the Orient. In May 2009 Richard spearheaded the purchase of John Corby Ltd, maker of the eponymous Corby Trouser Press and supplier of guest room products to the hotel industry worldwide. Following a successful integration to the Fired Up Group Corby have expanded their operations to over 50 countries worldwide.

Personal Details

DOB	29/5/67
Nationality	British
Status	Married with two children

Career

2007 to Present	Founder of forsaleinchina.co.uk an initiative to exploit opportunities for British and Chinese companies in the import and export of products and services
1999 to Present	Founding CEO, Fired Up Corporation A group of companies incorporating, Fireplace World, Internet Fires Direct, Hearth & Home Logistics and Adam Fires & Fireplaces, specializing in the international manufacture and distribution of products for the home with particular emphasis on the Fireplace industry
1990 to Present	Founding Managing Director, Armco Security Ltd. A company specializing in the supply, distribution, installation and provision of security products and services
1987 to 1990	West Yorkshire Police. Serving as a police constable in various departments
1983 to 1987	Hopkinsons Engineering Ltd. Time served apprentice in general engineering
1977 to 1983	All Saints High School. Failed miserably to achieve anything in the way of a decent set of qualifications

Other

Hobbies	None, looking to take up golf when I am too old to work
Personal Statement	I hope to enable enough people to get what they want out of life, so I too, can get whatever I want