Logged off: Daniel Dennehy, UK Essays

Daniel Dennehy, chief operations officer at UK Essays, has been with the Nottingham-based firm for eight-and-a-half years. Here, he tells us how he spends his free time.

How do you relax at the weekend?
For me, weekends are all about relaxation. Spending time with family and friends is important, so I enjoy going for meals or walks with them. Other than that, I like catching up on movies and listening to music.

How many hours do you work at the weekend on average?
I try not to work over the weekend because a work/life balance is very important to me. Spending time with family and friends helps me relax after a busy week in the office but it also prepares me for the week ahead. During busy periods, which tends to be when students are handing in essays, I’m normally first in the office to help out – but I aim to get everything done during the week.

Although we have very busy periods at UK Essays, it’s important for us to spend down time with our colleagues. We make sure we plan plenty of social events, including an annual weekend away at Center Parcs. We also buy lunch in for all of the staff every Friday as a way to get the team together in one room, which really boosts morale.

What’s your favourite:
– Holiday destination? Ibiza is a lovely destination and is much more than just a party island. Of course, you can enjoy a night out there, but there are also some beautiful places to relax.

– Book? I am not really a book person, but what I do read tends to be business-oriented. The last book I read was Alex Ferguson’s ‘Leading’ and I really enjoyed it. His insight into leadership is second to none and I would recommend it to anyone. In the UK Essays’ reception, we have a library full of books in a range of subjects, from hard-nosed business aids right through to celebrity memoirs – think Dragons’ Den or Richard Branson.

– Album? This is a really difficult one as it all depends on my mood! In the morning I love something to get me going, so I usually put Chase and Status on Spotify. Then, in the afternoon, I prefer something a little more chilled. I really like George the Poet at the moment and I also listen to the likes of Jack Garratt and Raleigh Ritchie. I could go on … I do like my music!

Food? I love a nice steak, but I am open to anything. I have never had a favourite food – I am usually happy with anything.

TV programme? Does watching football on a Sunday afternoon count? If not, then I am more of a movie guy than a TV one.

Website or app? I have just looked at my browsing history and found Twitter, Nottingham Forest’s website and BBC football are all on there. In terms of apps, I use the weather one the most often. When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is look at the weather – knowing whether it’s going to be sunny or raining is key to setting you up right for the day ahead.

How do you usually spend Sunday evenings?
In our household, Sunday evenings are for ‘family time’. Getting the kids to settle down and having everything ready for school the next day is important. Once everything is sorted for Monday morning, we all sit down on the sofa together and watch a film.

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