WHAT I'M CALLED: Claire Kingsbury.

MY AGE IN YEARS: I am 35 (but don’t tell anyone). Everyone says I look younger which is both a good thing, especially for a woman to hear, but also in the past has made it harder to be taken seriously in business, so is a real double-edged sword.

WHAT I DO: I am a director of Plus One Personnel, a recruitment agency with branches in Banbury, Bicester and Leamington Spa. I am also chairman of Banbury Chamber of Commerce and an Honorary Commander of RAF Croughton as well as a mother of four children.

WHERE I LIVE: Just outside Banbury.

WHO I LOVE: I love my husband, my children, the rest of my family and also all the great people I work with both at Plus One and the Chamber, who all feel like an extension of my own family.

HAPPIEST YEAR: I have had so many happy years, the year I got married, each year my children were born and also 2005, the year we started Plus One.

DARKEST MOMENT: Unfortunately, I have lost both my parents to cancer in the past four years, with the first anniversary of my father’s passing being next week, so they were by far the darkest times.

PROUDEST BOAST: This is a difficult one as I have been very lucky. Plus One winning Banbury Small Business of the Year in 2008 was fantastic. I have also both individually and as a company been shortlisted for two awards recently. Being the youngest and only female chairman of the Banbury Chamber is something I am very proud of and being asked to be an Honorary Commander of RAF Croughton. Also getting my Brownies Hostess badge on my first go was a childhood highlight.

WORST WEAKNESS: Without a doubt chocolate or anything sweet! Also being unable to say no. This is definitely something I need to work on.

DULLEST JOB: I have been very lucky and have always enjoyed the jobs I have had. I really don’t like housework and would love to find or invent the house-cleaning fairy.

LIFE-LONG HERO: My mother. She was such a hard-working person who was always so generous and kind and was a real inspiration to me.

OLDEST FRIEND: My best friend is also one of my oldest friends, Sarah Groom; we went to school together and still see each other every week. Luckily our husbands get on well! Sarah is someone who instantly makes me feel better just by being in her company and who always makes me laugh. We are more like sisters than friends.

WIDEST SMILE: All of my children! They all have smiles that light up not only the room but my whole world. I am so proud of them all and although I am biased I truly believe they have fantastic futures ahead of them and encourage them to always stay smiling. A smile can get you through almost everything.

BIGGEST REGRET: I try not to have regrets. I used to really regret not having gone to university but I feel now that actually I have been successful without having gained a degree and feel I am proof that you don’t always need to go to university to achieve good things and be able to run your own business and be successful.