Our People

Gary LakeDirector of Octarine Investments Limited

Gary began his career in the family business of Heritage Bathrooms and in his early thirties became one of the youngest people to float a company. His extensive experience in business since then has led him to become a seasoned investor; a commercial and residential landlord; a chairman for several bathroom companies and his favorite position – a mentor.

Gary has never stopped learning and continues to find ways to share his knowledge and help others to develop – Pyracore is just one example of the ways in which he does so. Gary tries to leave time in his diary to take on new projects – his inquisitive nature often sees him getting involved in projects which are new ground for him, which he tends to love and hate in equal measure, but as he says, ‘if you don’t get out of your comfort zone, then how do you expect to grow as an individual? You do have to practice what you preach if you want people to believe in you’.

When he is not elbow deep in work Gary enjoys spending time sailing his boat walking, playing chess and watching rugby.

Kathy FreemanOperations Manager, Octarine Investments Limited

Kathy began her career with Tesco Stores Limited where she spent just shy of 10 years. She started on a graduate management training scheme and her roles included Non-Food Section Manager, Non-Food Trading Manager, Regional Training Manager and Personnel Manager. Following a career break while her children were young Kathy re-joined the working world as a part-time PA to Gary Lake in 2014 where her experience in cultural change management influenced the development of the pyracore concept. Kathy lives with her family in North Somerset, enjoys running and is learning to play the piano.

My Grandad was fascinated by Pyramids. He had a number of books on them; big books with colourful glossy sheet covers. They looked really interesting from the outside as a child but when you opened them up they were all a bit dull and dry. Less pictures than an 8-year-old would want and far too much text. Nevertheless, it was enough to tell me that Grandad liked Pyramids.

In all three of the small bedrooms in Nan and Grandad’s Ipswich bungalow there was a roughly taped together grey cardboard pyramid.  One was on top of a wardrobe, one on top of a chest of drawers and the other bedroom wasn’t normally used as a bedroom -we called it ‘the den’ – and the pyramid was on the dresser.  Each pyramid was covering a glass of water and we were under strict instructions not to touch.

As children, my sisters and I were told that the pyramids were infusing magical qualities into the water.  This led to lots of games, dares; chatting about what might happen if we drank just a sip – childhood imaginations running wild with thoughts of superpowers and being able to do all sorts of magic.

As I grew up, I thought it was utter nonsense and questioned how an otherwise rational, normal human being like my Grandad could possibly believe in this hippy claptrap.  But now, as an adult, I’ve googled it… and maybe it’s not such a bad idea after all.

As a child, there were no limits to the power of the pyramid and as an adult, for quite different reasons the same belief holds true.

Mike NichollsCommunications, Training and Development

Mike started out in Bathrooms 35 years ago and has worked for notable companies such as Heritage MASCO and Eastbrook in a wide range of roles from Rep to Sales Director. He worked with markets in Europe, Australia and the USA before settling with his wife and daughters in the UK and opening his own business. Mike has used his vast skills in communications and endless enthusiasm to create training workshops and seminars for Pyracore. Mike lives in the Wye valley and enjoys walking his dogs with his wife in the local countryside.

As we grew, rather than allowing a dysfunctional self-serving culture, we all became part of the pyramid and culture conceived and evolved by Gary as part of his creativity. Some of my best memories were off-site two-day meetings where we would refocus and develop our strategy, where we worked, ate and laughed together from morning to midnight. The productivity, consequential application and results were rewarding and uplifting; we had an unbreakable spirit and sense of collective worth.

Since that time working in other businesses, I have seen people try and unskilfully bash results out of others, jostle for their own departments recognition or develop attritional relations with colleagues. Sadly, this normally emanates from the less committed or more divisive leaving the committed vulnerable to adopt the same behaviour. The net result is the loss of most of the potential for growth and profitability. Such parasitic behaviour never took hold amid the blossoming garden at Heritage.

We always knew this had potential way beyond our business and I feel delighted that it is now formulated into Pyracore offering untold benefits for all of us. Kathy’s part in this, is she took Gary’s pyramid and has taken it upon herself to shape and format it into Pyracore and has encapsulated the main ingredient “The Cultural Core” and is now adding her own ingredients along the way.

Mike Nicholls

Mike started out in Bathrooms 35 years ago and has worked for notable companies such as Mira, Heritage and Eastbrook. Originally starting as a Rep he became a Sales Director and has also worked in export including markets in Europe and Australia. After a role running a division for MASCO in New England, USA  in early part of the 21st Century, marriage changed Mikes outlook regarding travel and he opened his own bathroom retail business back in the UK in 2007 eventually selling it some years later. Mike lives in the Wye valley and enjoys walking his dogs with his wife in the local countryside,

Pyramid & Business Book

With a complete set of pyramids you can describe and demonstrate thousands of scenarios whether they are business related or personal experiences. This is the best value starter pack with everything you need to start working on pyramids and introducing them within your home or workplace.