60 Seconds With... Charles Taylor’s James Cranmer

Explain your job to a five-year-old.

I’m the teacher of lots of grown-ups. Instead of crayons and story time, I give them lessons on computers and look after a very smart elephant called Clever Nelly who asks lots of questions to help them remember what they’ve learned!  

What has been the highlight of your career to date?

Onboarding our online training platform, Clever Nelly, across most of Charles Taylor Assistance: its questions are aligned with our success measures to ensure customers have the best journey with us.

What would you name your autobiography?

Please Complete by Friday: The Story of My Life.

If you could learn any new skill what would it be?

I’d love to be fluent in multiple languages.

What chore do you hate most?

I actually don’t hate any. I’m a bit of a clean freak and hoover at least once a day.

What did you buy with your first wage packet?

I had a paper round when I was 13. I bought a football video (VHS) of Danny Baker’s own goals and gaffs. I lost count of the number of times I watched it.

What would you tell your 18-year-old self today?

Don’t watch England play at any major tournaments: it will hurt too much.

What song is guaranteed to make you smile or dance?

“Something” by the Beatles. It was me and my wife’s first dance song at our wedding.

If you could go back in time to any point in history, where would you go?

To Tudor England in the 1500s. I’ve always been fascinated with that era.

What one thing couldn’t you live without?

Red wine and anchovies.

How do you define success?

Learning something today that I didn’t know yesterday.

What was the last lie you told?

About the hoovering in the earlier question – it’s at least twice a day!