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Hello, welcome to the decisions that made me a leader. It's our spin-off series from the bottom line.

We're talking to entrepreneurs, a series of business interviews, and we're focusing on the

decisions that they've taken in their life

that got them to where they are now. I'm Evan Davis and the guest with me today is actually

an old colleague of mine from Dragon's Den, Duncan Bannertine. Entrepreneur, author,

perhaps best known as a dragon. As of now, Duncan is living a dream retirement, but still very much involved

in his business. He grew up in relatively poor circumstances in Clyde Bank, spent his 20s trying

almost everything in business before launching a career with an ice cream van. We'll get more on that

in a moment. And from all of that, he went on to

successfully earn a place in the Sunday Times Richlist, from running care homes to gyms and

hotels. Duncan, welcome. We have a tradition on this series of starting at the end. I want to

start with the decision you made, more recent decision still 10 years ago

You left Dragon's Den. Correct. Why was that? I didn't really want to feel that what I wanted to deal with people anymore who came along for investment

I just said so many other things to do my life

I maybe it's because I was getting older and then you're sort of focusing things and seeing your family and your children. I've got seven children. I've got six grandchildren. So I didn't really diagnose the reason, but I didn't want to do it anymore. You had a good time though. It wasn't that you'd fallen out with anybody or you'd felt disenchanted. Oh no, no. There was nothing like that. It was totally my decision. You know, the thing is, it's like, it's different because if you invest in people that come on Dragon's Den, you feel the responsibility towards them because they have came and I've been told, this is the greatest businessman in the world. Almost. We lie about that now on the program. They feel that, you know, and so, and they think they can solve all, you can solve all the problems.

I just didn't want to hassle of it anymore.

I just felt, and now it's also 26 days filming every year. So all that added together, I just wanted more time to myself. It's hard work. It is hard work for that period. Okay, so now you drop Dragon's Den.

You're still chief executive of Bannetine Group, which is your mini empire.

But are you really working?

I don't sort of understand quite what you're spending your time doing.

Well, Mondays I have a Zoom call every morning at half past nine.

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