The Road To Success: Andy Bradley Of The Bridges

Managing one of the region’s largest shopping centres may be challenging but that’s exactly how Andrew Bradley likes his working day, as he points out during a drive with Park Executive owner Kevin Potts.

Can you introduce yourself for those who don’t know you?

I’m the Centre Director of the Bridges Shopping Centre in Sunderland. I’m responsible for the day-to-day running of the

centre, making sure it remains a safe and welcoming environment for our visitors and to create optimum trading conditions for our retailers.

For the benefit of those who don’t know, what is The Bridges and what makes it standout compared to other retail centres?

The Bridges is a shopping centre set in the heart of Sunderland city centre. Our standout attribute is our convenience and ease of access. We have over 90 great retailers all on one level with no escalators to navigate, so it’s easily accessible for everyone.

Can you tell us a bit about your background in business and what attracted you to The Bridges?

I’ve been running shopping centres for almost three decades, in fact I’ve managed 13 shopping centres across the UK. My biggest challenge however was running Scotland’s largest shopping centre in East Kilbride, which I managed through the recession. The similarities between the people of Sunderland and the people of Glasgow are uncanny. They’re kind, generous and good people. That’s what attracted me to The Bridges.

What does your typical working day include?

I normally check my phone and emails the moment I wake up. I plan my day during my drive to work and then check in with the

team as soon as I arrive in the office. We have a team huddle at 09:30am on the mall to discuss the business of the day. I’m then generally flipping from one task to another throughout the day such as finance, marketing, events, legal matters, retailer issues as well as attending numerous meetings.

You’re also on the board of Sunderland Business Partnership, can you tell us a bit about the organisation and why you got involved?

Sunderland Business Partnership is a group of like-minded businesspeople working together for the benefit of the city. We

are there to raise the profile of the city, shout about its successes, manage its weaknesses and drive its ambition. This is achieved by a collaborative approach, working with key partners including the local authority, university, college, Gentoo, Sunderland AFC and the BID amongst others.

What made you want to get involved in the partnership?

I realised at a meeting of senior business colleagues over seven years ago, by looking at the partners around the table, that we all had one thing in common. Whether it was to sell something, educate, entertain or feed the many, we all needed one thing, a single component we all desired, people! None of our organisations can survive without people. We can reach out to more people working together and by delivering to them the best possible experience. The only way The Bridges will remain successful is if the city is successful as a whole. We all have a shared responsibility to make this happen.

What makes Sunderland such a great place to do business?

There’s a real partnership vibe in Sunderland. No organisation is too big or too clever to work with each other. I’ve worked in many towns and cities across the UK and I can tell you that what we do in Sunderland is unique. Our local authority is one of the most accessible local authorities for business I’ve ever seen. Our university and college are also very engaged with the wider business community and there are many support groups for the city’s independent businesses and start-ups. It’s a great place to do business.

How do you wind down when you’re not at work?

I never try to take my work home with me but as long as I have my mobile phone it’s always there somewhere! So, I really have to plan my social activity and distractions carefully to get away from it all. I enjoy walking and spend a lot of time away in my motorhome most weekends with my wife and our dog, Trigger. My favourite place to escape to has to be Derwent Water in the Lake District.

What’s your advice for achieving a good work/life balance?

Make your workplace the best possible place to work by embracing all of the good stuff. Wellbeing is huge now and can really help you de-stress your team. We have to do all of the hard work stuff anyway so we may as well try and make the work environment as enjoyable as possible. Have fun. I’m often told off for singing by members of the team!

Looking back, who has had the largest impact on your career and why?

I’d have to say senior colleagues over the decades who have encouraged me to apply for more senior roles. If it wasn’t for their encouragement, I might never have believed I had what it took to move forward. So always listen to those who say you can!

What’s the wisest piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

My mum once said don’t complain when you are confronted with challenges, a challenge is the opportunity to find a solution.

Imagine life without any challenges!

Finally, if you were going to give someone one piece of advice to get on the road to success, what would it be?

Always try to be part of the solution and be respectful and take a minute to consider other people’s views, then ensure your view is heard the loudest!