In this episode of HIP Biz I speak to Giles Perrin the charismatic owner of the St Leonards Grocery, a local fruit and veg shop which has become part of the fabric of the local community. Giles wears several hats and is also the Principal and founder of Claremont school, an Independent Day & Boarding school in East Sussex.

I find out about Giles` early life, and how he spent his formative childhood years in and around the school that his dad set up - Bedes in East Sussex. And that 19 weeks of the year he lived at their family holiday home on the north Devon coast, a place he now calls his 'spiritual home'.

When Giles finished school he embarked on a gap year to the India subcontinent and while there found a place like nothing he had ever expereinced before, meeting people who were far outside the demographic he had previously encountered, opening his eyes to a new way of life. He would return throughout his career.

The following years took him to University which he found difficult and then jobs on building sites and gardening work, where he was attracted to being outdoors.

After a second trip to India to set up a guesthouse, he returned to Bedes this time as a teacher which he enjoyed but decided to change it up and transferred to Frome school in Somerset, a tough comprehensive school.

He describes himself as a maverick teacher who was excellent with teenagers both academically and pastorally.

He travelled back to India for a third time when he was invited to set up an international boarding school, taking his young family to Pune where they stayed for over 4 years.

He came home when he was asked to set up a new school in Sussex from scratch. The school became a success and is thriving a decade later.

In 2021 he and Gillian, his partner decided to buy their local grocery store after a chance meeting with Teresa, one of the members of staff who whispered in his ear that it was for sale. They bought it from the previous proprietor who had run it for 33 years.

Giles has found a place where he can do the things he loves, being around people, getting to know them and providing an important service.

Nowadays he spends most of his time off working at the grocery store, with his nephew Jack running the day to day. He has quickly improved the business bringing new products and energy to the project.

Giles is very honest about his work style and describes himself as a master of winging it. He has never had a career plan, but just done the next thing that looks good. This has led to a varied career based on intuition rather than planning.