Sheila's looking after a different kind of nest egg

As senior portfolio manager at Sanlam Private Investments (UK) Limited, in Teesside, she plays a crucial role in ensuring clients get the best deal they can to look after their assets.

But growing up as a youngster on a farm at Redmarshall, near Darlington, it was a different story.

The nest eggs back then were a slightly more fearful place, and the farming industry was never really destined to provide a full-time career.

She said: “It was something about their flapping wings that I didn’t like.

“I had to collect the eggs, but I’m not really a bird person, so having to get so close to the hens made it difficult.

“My brother stills farms, but it is not a job; it is your life and a big commitment.”

Instead, after graduating with an economics degree, Mrs Tindle moved into a different industry.

With 30 years’ experience in the sector, she says she has seen many changes, with one of the most recent her switch to Sanlam, after wealth management company Brewin Dolphin closed its Teesside office.

Sanlam already operated bases in Newcastle, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, and Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, and Mrs Tindale said the former Brewin team were delighted to retain roots in the region.

The firm provides a number of financial services, including wealth management, investment management and stockbroking.

She said: “We are really pleased to be able to set up again in the Tees Valley because we see a lot of opportunities in the area.

“We may not have the boom time of some of the other regions but Tees Valley has a lot to be proud of and us being available to offer investment management services to local people is fantastic.

“We help people to manage their investments to help them get the best they can with an arranged set of objectives and level of risk that is right for them.

“We are all from this region and really pleased to have opened the office because, although the company had bases in the region, they didn’t have one in this part of the North.

“The response from clients and other professionals who we have built relationships with has been extremely positive.

“We have got a good professional community and there is plenty of interest in investment management.

“I’ve been in the industry for 30 years and there have been lots of changes.

“Some have definitely been for the better and meant that what we do for the clients has adjusted for the good.”

Favourite North-East building and why? I grew up close to the Tees Cottage Pumping Station, Darlington, and used to visit it when it was opened up periodically. The significant size of the building and the beam engine inside really impressed me. It’s a really unusual building and I’m hoping it will be open to the public in again in the future.

What was your first job and how much did you get paid? I worked on the cheese counter at Liptons, in Darlington, when I was about 15. I only worked there for a few weeks and sadly I can’t remember how much I got paid, but I know it wasn’t an awful lot.

What is the worst job you've had? It was unpaid so I don’t know if it was strictly a job, but I lived on a farm as a child and I used to collect the eggs from our hens. I am not really a bird person and having to get so close to hens made it such a difficult experience.

What would you cook for me if I came around for dinner? It may sound very simple, but in spite of my experiences with our hens, scrambled egg and smoked salmon is one of my favourites. Particularly at this time of year, it is lovely to come in from the cold and have something simple and warming.

What would your superpower be? Telepathy.

Name four people, dead or alive, who would be at your perfect dinner party: I am sure if I had Robin Williams, Lee Mack, Peter Kay and Sue Perkins all together, the evening would go off well and I wouldn’t stop laughing.

Most expensive thing you've bought - other than car or house - and how much? A holiday with my husband to the Seychelles last year. This was a joint celebration for our Silver Wedding and my 50th birthday. I have tried to forget how much we spent.

Who is the best person to follow on Twitter and why? Sorry, I don’t do Twitter.

Favourite book? The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, by Stieg Larsson. The whole trilogy is great, but I really love the way the third book brings it all together.

When did you last cry? I have been doing that quite a lot recently as sadly my father died a few weeks ago – it has taken some adjusting to.

What is your greatest achievement? Maintaining a balanced family life alongside full time work. Not easy, as many know.

What's the best piece of advice in business you've ever been given? Nothing stays the same for long.

Favourite animal and why? Black Labradors. We had several while I was growing up and I find them the most wonderful animals.

Most famous person on your mobile phone? I am very ordinary and don’t mix with celebrities, so nobody famous features on my mobile phone.

What was the last band you saw live? I saw the Kaiser Chiefs last year which seems ages ago, but I am looking forward to seeing Queen in January.

Describe your perfect night in: Settling down to a good film, perhaps a romantic comedy, with a glass (or two) of cool white wine with my family around me.

In another life I would be... more relaxed and take things more slowly.

Who would play you in a film of your life? Anne Hathaway because obviously I look 20 years younger than I really am.

What irritates you? Too many people thinking about themselves first and others last.