Electricity and water are usually kept very much apart but both play a huge role in InstaVolt CEO Tim Payne’s life

01 Career history: everything from working on a fishing boat to running a £500m turnover contracting business. More recently I was the co-founder and COO of Anesco, one of the UK’s fastest-growing energy efficiency firms. I’m now founder and CEO of InstaVolt.

02 Dream job if you weren’t doing this:

Growing up I wanted to join the RAF and fly jets. Unfortunately, at the time there were height limits, which I passed at 14!

03 What do you drive:

At InstaVolt we have a BMWi3 we all use to get to and from meetings and I love driving it. It’s so quiet and is geared up for rapid charging.

04 What would you like to drive: If I could fit in one, I’d love to drive a modern Formula 1 car for the thrill of it.

05 Perfect day: a day with family and friends on the water, either sailing or boating.

06 Favourite team: the Red Bull Formula 1 team.

07 Favourite read: most of my reading is confined to magazines like Yachting Monthly.

08 Favourite film:

Apollo 13 I like films based on true events.

09 Best holiday: I love UK-based activity holidays including hiking.

10 Possessions you couldn’t do without: it’s such a cliché, but my smartphone.

11 Most admire: anyone who has a sense of adventure.

12 Thing I’m most likely to be found doing at a forecourt: checking in on the team to see how they’re getting on with installing our rapid electric car chargers. Or posing for a picture next to one!

13 Item I’m most likely to buy at a forecourt: I do enjoy a good coffee.

14 Greatest achievement:

Sailing solo across the Atlantic. I took a sabbatical in 1997 to do it.

15 Greatest fear: ironically while I love being on the water, I dislike being under it!

16 Tips for business success: Keep it simple.

17 Best business advice you’ve received: Follow the cash. Managing cash in any business is key to success.

18 Best thing about your job: I have the privilege of working with an amazing team of people who are empowered to make a real difference in what they’re doing.

19 Pet hates: the impunity of social media.

20 Thoughts on the forecourt sector: I think the sector is only just waking up to the potential opportunities that alternative fuel represents.