A Future Focus Interview - Darren Walker, Chairman of Birmingham Future

In this interview, Birmingham Future's new chairman Darren Walker discusses the importance of Birmingham Future for young professionals in the city, the impact of Birmingham Future on the local business community and his themes for the coming year.

1. What motivated you to become the chair of Birmingham Future for 2010/2011?

Birmingham Future is a uniquely successful organisation. Having spent time talking to many people involved in similar work around the country, no-one else has developed such an active, broad and engaged membership organisation for young professionals. We have so many successes it is hard to mention them all but, to name just a few, we have an excellent mentoring scheme, a superb programme of networking and development events, over 100 committee members whose contribution and commitment makes everything happen and, of course my personal favourite, Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (having chaired the event last year after four years on the committee). Therefore it is with immense pride that I take on the role of Birmingham Future chair and hope to carry on the wonderful history of the organisation. Beyond that, the role of chair obviously exposes you to many influential people, interesting events and brilliant initiatives; however it also poses an interesting management challenge. This challenge is also one of the most attractive features of the role. In simple terms, myself and the leadership team are now responsible for running a business in our time out of the office. My recent sabbatical to business school has given me a real desire to expand my management and business experience and the role of chair is something I think you have to approach as a leader of a management team. In this role I intend to drive a commitment to making Birmingham Future a continued success through a renewed focus on delivering real value and benefit to our members and their employers.

2. What impact do you think Birmingham Future has on the local business community?

I think Birmingham Future fills a very important role. In terms of networking, building strong long lasting relationships is a ‘long game’ and it can be quite a difficult process for even the most talented professionals. Members of Birmingham Future are given access to a broad range of really driven, talented people who have similar ambitions and goals. I also believe some of the broader personal development opportunities, such as less industry specific training and seminars for our members, give access to softer skills which will help develop Birmingham’s talent into more rounded business professionals. Finally, we make sure that we give all of our members a fun but professional atmosphere in which to build, develop and strive to be successful for them and their businesses.

3. How will you juggle working full-time as an associate in Cobbetts LLP’s Corporate Department and carrying out your role as chair of Birmingham Future?

The demands of the role are challenging and exciting and I know finding time when you are busy at work can be difficult. I am lucky that I have a very supportive employer in Cobbetts LLP, which understands the broader benefit that performing this role can bring to my personal development and the profile of the firm. There will therefore be times when juggling the roles will be difficult however I firmly believe in Richard Branson’s theory of surrounding yourself with “people who are more intelligent than you”, as they will take responsibility, show initiative and together form a team of leaders. I am confident in the team I have around me to contribute massively to all the challenges that Birmingham Future may face, but in return, they should benefit from the opportunities that being in these positions present.

4. For those Birmingham Future members that did not make this year’s AGM, what are your themes for the forthcoming year?

Many commentators see the key to economic recovery in the country and our region is held by entrepreneurial businesses. It is the start-up businesses that will become the employers of tomorrow and will form the source of many of our members’ client bases. For these reasons my key theme for this year is entrepreneurialism. In examining this theme there are two key initiatives that we want to explore. Firstly we want to give our members the opportunity to meet Birmingham’s entrepreneurs. These networks will provide contacts for new businesses/potential clients to our broad professional network and will give our members the chance to be exposed to real hands-on business issues. I also want to encourage an entrepreneurial culture amongst our membership. In order for all of our businesses to emerge from the economic slump, we need to be innovative in the way we offer our services, explore the new revenue streams to which each of our competencies may be applied and constantly question how we do things. Those that are proactive and develop new value-add services and unique ways of providing those services will lead the growth of the professional services industry in what will be a very different business climate.

5. As we emerge out of the recession what do you think are the biggest challenges faced by Birmingham’s business community?

As I have mentioned above, I feel that entrepreneurs and new business is the key. I think for our professional and business firms, the key to success will be to breakdown the mentality of “this is how we do things around here” and business leaders should look to consciously encourage people to challenge the status quo and help develop new ways of doing things.

6. What benefits do you think Birmingham offers for graduates and young professionals?

It’s very hard not to sound too clichéd when answering a question like this, however there are a number of themes that are consistently heard that I firmly believe ring true. The professional network in Birmingham is second to none. Speaking to people from the BPS sector around the UK and even abroad, it is clear to see that we are a much more connected city, where, even though many of our businesses are direct competitors, we can come together to drive Birmingham forwarded for the benefit of all of the businesses here. I would also suggest that living in the city centre is a great way of life for young professionals. I lived within five minutes of the city centre for eight years before a recent move and can honestly say it was the time of my life. There is every leisure and cultural facility you could want within touching distance of the core businesses district and a constant flow of really great people, not weighed down by their own self importance, who are keen to enjoy all that the city has to offer.

7. Although the UK has an ageing population, Birmingham is one of Europe’s youngest cities. How important do you think this is for the future of the city?

I think this is of course important; however it presents both an opportunity and a threat to Birmingham. We have to be conscious of making sure that this young population grow up believing anything is possible in their careers with hard work, optimism and a “can do” attitude and that, wherever this population migrates to, they remain staunch supporters of our city. Failure to do this could have a lasting impact on the future of Birmingham.

8. If you had one hour to show a visitor around the city where would you go and what would you do?

I’d probably take them to costume day at the test match at Edgbaston. I love my sport and having such a great international venue right on the city centre’s doorstep is a real plus. When the new stand is complete, it will be back to being the premium test venue in the country for experience, noise and atmosphere. The evening would have to be visiting one of Birmingham’s premium restaurants. We are blessed to have the best cuisine outside of the capital and I have a list of various favourites, from Lasans in the Jewellery Quarter, to tapas at the Ikon Gallery in Brindley Place or Filini’s in the Radisson hotel... but I would go for Glynn Purnell’s Michelin starred Purnell’s Restaurant if I had to choose just one. I’d then finish the night with a cheese-fest at long term favourite Walkabout or karaoke at Pad Thai!!! Apologies to anyone that has had my dancing or singing inflicted upon them at either of those venues.

9. Villa or City?

Difficult question, as a fan of the city I want all of the Birmingham based teams to do well; however I am probably more of a Villa sympathiser if pushed. I do however support another Premiership team, but I am keeping that to myself!
 

• Login to post comments