IT was after watching a programme about rogue estate agents that Mike Brain decided to act.

Bored of his job in sales, and looking for a new challenge, the documentary about how not to do it made him realise that he could.

He left his job as a car salesman and, with his wife Alison, invested cash into setting up their first branch of Hannells in Main Street, Hilton.

They were able to capitalise on the fact that there was no other estate agent in the village to represent what had become a large residential area.

And with Mike's experience as a salesman and Alison's expertise as a mortgage adviser, the business flourished, allowing them to open a further six branches over the next few years.

The company, set up in 2003, now employs 35 people and is one of the biggest estate agents in the city.

But not content with being a successful businessman, Mike is also devoted to doing what he can to help others in the community.

He juggles his work with being a first responder and often helps out local schools and groups.

He is also a keen supporter of local charities and has even been known to save a life or two personally.

Mike says that thinking of ways to help in the community has become engrained in the day-to-day working schedule at his company.

And he says his staff and his wife have been delighted to join in.

"It really is a team effort," said Mike.

"All these ideas come from the staff.

"We often have meetings and they come up with things to do for the community.

"And I couldn't do it without my wife.

"I think it is important for people to do their bit and the firm is now in a position where we are able to do that."

Mike first put his hand in his pocket in 2004, buying a £500 TV for Derby teenager Matthew Oakley.

The youngster suffered from a rare genetic disorder called Apert Syndrome, which left his face disfigured and his fingers and toes fused together.

Mike said he decided to act after reading in the Derby Telegraph that Matthew's specially designed bike had been stolen.

He said at the time: "I heard that he wanted a big television with surround sound.

" We're always trying to do something for the community and because Matthew's local to us we thought we'd try and make his Christmas a bit brighter.

"When I rang Matthew's mother to tell her, she was really chuffed."

Then, in 2006, Hannells agreed to join forces with dealer TC Harrison to donate a £9,000 car to the Magic Laser Appeal.

It was raffled off, raising £3,750 for the campaign, set up to buy a £153,000 laser machine for the gynaecology department at the then Derby City General Hospital.

Just a few months later, Hannells stumped up £1,000 to help Priscilla Hamer fly the body of her husband John home from Cyprus.

He died in hospital while on holiday, but his family could not afford the £5,000 hospital bill or to bring his body home. But after reading about their plight in the Telegraph, five firms, including Hannells, each donated £1,000.

And last Christmas Mike become a panto hero when he came to the aid of hundreds of pupils who were going to miss out on their annual Christmas treat.

Every year, Lakeside Community Primary School's 420 pupils have travelled on coaches to see the pantomime at Nottingham's Playhouse.

But last year, due to rising costs, the Alvaston school could not afford to fund the subsidised trip.

The disappointed children looked set to miss out on their annual treat until Mike decided to step in and offered to pay for a touring theatre company to visit the school.

More recently, Hannells helped out the school once again, donating 1,000 high-visibility jackets for youngsters to wear on their way home.

Two other schools, Chellaston Junior School and Meadow Farm Community Primary in Chaddesden, also benefited from his "Be safe be seen" campaign.

He now hopes that this will be rolled out across the city.

Earlier this month, Hannells also launched a campaign with Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service to set up a rapid response water rescue team for the region.

And Mike combines all of this with his work as a community first responder with the East Midlands Ambulance Service, which saw him attend 23 cardiac arrests in his first six months.

The role sees him trained by the service to resuscitate people who have stopped breathing.

First responders are on call for medical emergencies in their area and will often be able to arrive before an ambulance.

They are equipped with a defibrillator – a machine that delivers an electric shock to the heart – as well as aspirators, breathing masks and basic first aid equipment.''

There are scarcely enough hours in the day for Mike to do all that he wants to.

"It can be a struggle to fit it all in, but it is all about time management and making time for the things that are important," he said.

Mike maintains that his biggest challenge yet was when he was faced with a man preparing to jump from a road bridge.

Mike rushed to the scene, a bridge over the A50 between Chellaston and Aston on Trent, after his son spotted the man. Together with motorist John Mee, the pair sat inches from him, gave him cigarettes and tried to calm him down before persuading him to step back from the edge.

Mike and Hannells plan to go on helping people in need.

He said: "We like to do what we can."