Tim Andrews is the founder and chairman of Hollywood Monster which creates bold print and signage solutions that transform spaces and amplify brands.
In one sentence, what does your role involve? I started Hollywood Monster in 1991 alongside my father, and have carried out most jobs within the business, but since the passing of my father I have undertaken the role of chairman.This is fundamentally an overarching role working alongside my directors while still ensuring my clients get what they want.
How long have you been in your current job? Five years, however the previous 34 were spent running the business.
Give us a summary of your professional career to date. My first job was a technical engineering apprenticeship with aerospace company Hymatic Engineering in Redditch which gave me the insight into how a business is run. I firmly believe the experience gave me the very basic tools to start my own business at 21.
My first sales call I made was to Birmingham City Football Club, winning the contract to become their signage supplier, and still supply them today. The business now has a turnover of £10 million and a headcount of 55.
In 2011 I became involved in Birmingham City women’s football club, eventually becoming their CEO and a sabbatical away from my family business. My last game in charge was at Wembley in front of 50,000 fans watching my team from the royal box lose the 2017 FA Cup final to Man City. The team actually won the cup in 2012, beating Chelsea 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out. We were also on the end of three defeats in the League Cup final and a semi-final in the Champions League during my involvement. So a very successful stint at professional football.
I returned to Hollywood Monster in 2017 as CEO, eventually becoming chair in 2020.
I have enjoyed NED/mentor roles at various businesses, from VR immersive education tech to funeral planning, carbon capture, a construction project management business and also digital marketing. I really enjoy working with other CEOs who are starting out, and using my experience and knowledge to prevent them from making the same mistakes I have made. And there are a lot!
I co-founded the charity LoveBrum in 2014 with colleagues Dave Maclean and PJ Ellis. We are all custodians of our city but we felt it needed some loving. The civic pride in our city was not the same as others, and we don’t punch our chest quite like others do.
There are many volunteer-led projects that are working on the ground to improve the city. But they lack funding. This is why LoveBrum exists. It amplifies their voice, it gives them a platform, it connects them to the corporate world. It donates to them and gives them the support they deserve.
Did further/higher education set you up well for your particular vocation? My apprenticeship was fantastic. Coupled with the ‘on the job’ experience I had, it was phenomenal.
How is your job impacted by uncertainties in the economy? Hollywood Monster has had to navigate many obstacles along the way. The financial crash in 2008/9 caused huge market issues due to our dependency on the property market. Covid hit us because of our earlier pivot into the events sector, and the recent interest rate increases have made it difficult to continually invest in the latest technology.
What’s your view of artificial intelligence – an opportunity, threat, or bit of both? I have witnessed many advances in my lifetime. Computers and mobile phones in the 1990s, and social media in the 2000s. I have embraced them all, and believe AI is something we should all take on board, and so an opportunity without a doubt.
Social media platform of choice, and why? Horses for courses. Facebook for personal, Instagram for glossy photos, LinkedIn for business and Twitter to rant.
How do you hope your colleagues would describe you? This is a tough one, but in truth I hope they see me as humble, selfless, fun and ambitious. Oh, and approachable.
Highlights of your career so far? Being recognised by the Queen in her last birthday honours list before she passed is without doubt my proudest. The icing on the cake was being able to take my mum to receive the medal. I have won many business awards but being crowned Brummie of the Year in 2018 and the overall IoD of the year winner in 2016 have to be mentioned. The creation of LoveBrum sits very close to my heart.
Any particular faux pas or embarrassing moments in your career you would prefer to forget? No regrets but lots to forget. We are human, we all make mistakes!
Pet hates? Flaky people.
If you could go back and give your younger self some wise advice, what would it be? Know your numbers, spend 80% of your time on the business and 20% in it and make time for yourself and your family. It’s not all just working.
How do you relax away from work? Boating, eating, drinking, running my farm and watching the Blues.
Tell us something about you that most people probably wouldn’t know. Probably my FA Cup story – but I do tell a lot of people!
You can take one book, one film and one disc onto a desert island – what would they be? I rarely read or watch films, so can I take my girlfriend instead?
Your five dream dinner party guests, dead or alive?Prince, Donald Trump, the Queen, George Michael and my mum.
What would you choose to eat for your last supper? Chicken jalfrezi and a Chinese chicken curry chaser (with extra mushrooms).
