The hunt for Coventry and Warwickshire’s top young professional is now on, with the launch of the first ever YoungPro.
Run by the network for professionals, Coventry & Warwickshire First, YoungPro celebrates the breadth and depth of talent within the region’s professional and financial services sector’s next generation of leaders.
There are five categories in YoungPro – Legal, Finance, Banking, Property and Business Services. Each category winner will combine superb performance in the workplace with a commitment to the region and the all-important and intangible x-factor. The winners will be announced at a Gala Reception, being held at St Mary’s Guild Hall, Coventry on Friday 27 January.
The category winners will automatically be the finalists in the Young Professional category of FirstPro 2017, the results of which will be announced at a Gala Dinner at the Ricoh Arena in April 2017.
Chrissie Elliot-Duxson, Chair of Coventry & Warwickshire First’s young professionals network said: “Last year Jenny Simpson, winner of the FirstPro 2017 Young Professional category, was also named the overall FirstPro. Considering she was in the company of some of the region’s leading professionals, it was an incredible achievement.
“YoungPro gives us the chance to recognise the talent and contribution of the many other young professionals who are building their careers in Coventry and Warwickshire’s professional services.
“We want as many young people as possible to have the chance to be recognised so are encouraging everyone to nominate a talented colleague now!”
Mike Durkin, chair of Coventry & Warwickshire First and Relationship Director at Santander Corporate and Commercial Banking, continued: “Every year we receive a large number of very high calibre entries to the Young Professional category of our FirstPro awards. We wanted to do justice to the exceptional talent of our young professionals and recognise their contribution and aspirations. Launching YoungPro gives us the perfect platform to do exactly that.”
Nominating a talented young professional is easy. Visit Coventry & Warwickshire First’s website for more information or email the organisation’s executive support, Angela Tellyn at angela@coventryfirst.co.uk.
Nominations close on 27 November. The finalists will be announced on 30 November with the judging taking place on 5 December.
A solicitor at Wright Hassall, Jeremy advised on acquisitions, disposals, investments, joint ventures, turnarounds and restructuring.
An ambitious young lawyer he qualified into the corporate finance team in 2015.
He was shocked when his name was read out!
I was really very surprised. I sat there for a moment to gather my thoughts before realising I had to go up to the stage!
There were some extremely able people on the shortlist so I was just very pleased to be in their company; being recognized as Highly Commended was a real bonus!
There was obviously a bit of banter from colleagues when I won but there has also been a lot of congratulations. It’s been a brilliant experience.
What brought you to this point?
I was a paralegal in London. I was affected by the last recession and since my partner was from this area we decided to move here. I wanted a role with a regional firm and had always wanted to work in corporate law. I was lucky, a great opportunity came up with Wright Hassall.
Now I’m working on corporate deals and loving it. I really enjoy the face-to-face contact with clients, the negotiation and the pace of the work.
Which achievements are you proudest of?
I recently completed my first Triathlon; I did it in aid of the Wright Hassall Charitable Trust. I’d never done one before and I certainly had to push through the pain barrier!
When it comes to my work I was really proud of getting a training contract. It’s incredibly competitive so I had to really shine.
I also got a real buzz when I completed my first deal. It involved a local company being sold by its owners. They were great to work with and the pressure exhilarating, particularly as we hurtled towards completion. Balancing the interests of our clients within the challenges of the timescale was tough but rewarding.
Where do you go from here?
My main goal is to have my own business. My Dad had his own business and I saw how much he loved it and the risks and rewards that come with it.
In the context of my profession that means I am definitely aiming for partnership.
What do you do to unwind?
I like sport and have played rugby for the Old Leamingtonians RFC. Now I’m a regular at my local gym – it really helps me to relieve the tension. And of course, a couple of beers with friends is always fun!
Chrissie works in marketing, student recruitment and student experience for the Department of Economics at the University of Warwick. Chair of the Coventry & Warwickshire Young Professionals network and Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses for Warwick and Leamington, she was nominated for a staff award both this year and last year and consistently goes above and beyond in her job. It’s no surprise she was ‘Highly Commended’ at FirstPro.
How did you feel when your name was read out?
It was unbelievable. It never occurred to me I’d be recognised but it felt wonderful when it happened.
The response at the University was great. It was lovely that Kate Hughes, the Partnerships Director at Warwick, and Ian O’Donnell from the FSB had been invited to support me. It went in our internal newsletter and I’ve had lots of congratulations.
Which achievements are you most proud of?
I’m really proud of all my qualifications. I have a first class law degree as well as being AAT and CIM qualified. I took both of those qualifications as evening classes whilst also working full time so it was quite challenging. Not to mention I’m terrible at maths so the AAT was really tough for me!
I was also really happy when I got my current job. Half my job relates to the student experience and I love being involved with the students. We like to offer them something extra so arrange guest lectures with well-known politicians and policy makers, and social events. I’m also running a soft skills module, which is compulsory for all our first year Economics students.
Where next for you?
I keep my focus on the here and now but at the moment I think the next step would be marketing manager. At Warwick there are always new jobs and initiatives coming up so I like to keep an open mind. There are currently new projects happening in London and California!
You love photography?
Yes, I ran a photography business for four years. It taught me a lot about marketing and business development but I have put that on a back burner for the time being to focus on my career.
What else do you get involved in?
I mentored an A’ Level student through the Career Academies Programme. I helped him grow in confidence and get ready for the workplace. It was amazing to watch him grow from a shy 16-year-old into a confident young man; he came second in the Career Academies STEM Student of the Year.
I would also like to be a role model for people with mental health challenges. I have experienced severe difficulties with depression, anxiety and agoraphobia over the past five years and yet still managed to achieve at home and work. I want people to know it can be done. That’s not to say it’s easy but you can keep fighting.
What about outside work?
I sing and play the guitar so when I get time I do the occasional gig. I played for a summer festival last year and a Christmas party in December but it’s hard to find the time to get gig-ready with all my other responsibilities.
I also love travelling and went to California and Vegas for my honeymoon. In the last few years I’ve been to New Zealand, USA and across Europe. Later this year I’m off to New York and next year it’s Perth, Sydney and hopefully Washington DC. Eventually I want to visit every single US state.
Richard Hardy was one of three individuals deemed by the judges to have made an Outstanding Contribution to the professional services sector in Coventry and Warwickshire and to the region’s wider business community.
A founding partner of Bromwich Hardy and one of the most experienced chartered surveyors in the Coventry & Warwickshire area, Richard is a former High Sheriff of Warwickshire and a trustee of Warwickshire Crime Beat, Positive about Young People and Sir Thomas White’s Charity.
He told us he felt bemused when he was named on the night.
I have never sought any recognition or self-publicity so this came as a complete surprise. I was flattered and my friends and colleagues have been very supportive since.
What are your proudest achievements?
I’ve acted for the Volvo Group for 20 years. They use an international agent throughout the world except in the UK. I have had to compete against national agents and pitched in front of the Volvo board in Sweden. I am very proud of having sustained such a strong relationship over so long. I put in the time and effort to learn about their business and know every property they have in the UK.
The longevity of my client relationships is perhaps the thing I am most proud of; as well as Volvo I have a number of long standing clients, some of which have been with me for 35 years.
I’m also proud of Bromwich Hardy. Tom Bromwich and I have built a strong business through sheer hard work. We set up in 2008 and if you can survive setting up a business at the start of a recession you can survive anything!
Where do you go from here?
I want to continue to improve and provide a good service to my clients. You can never sit on your laurels!
How do you think the regional economy is performing?
Our region was doing very well prior to Brexit. The property market was booming and everyone was positive. There was plenty of investment coming into Coventry and Warwickshire, in large part, of course, driven by the success of Jaguar Land Rover.
Since the vote our clients have taken a deep breath and said “business as usual”. We need time now to see how things will pan out.
Do you have a role in the wider area?
I am a former High Sheriff of Warwickshire. I loved my time in the role, which is the oldest secular office in the UK
My focus was always on uniting the north and south of Warwickshire. The north is too often seen as the poor relation of the south and I wanted to re-dress that balance. In addition I wanted to highlight the needs of underprivileged children throughout the County and find ways of giving them a sense of purpose both for themselves and their communities.
And how do you unwind?
I love music; we’re frequent concert goers and also regulars at Glastonbury! (That raises a few eyebrows!) It’s a completely different environment to my professional life and so is a perfect way to unwind.
I am also a fan of cricket and rugby and now a season ticket holder at Wasps RFC and am delighted that they have come to the Ricoh Arena, bringing top flight rugby to Coventry and Warwickshire.
Hannah Bates’ legal career started when she was awarded a Sports Scholarship to attend Coventry University and chose to study law and business. She has been part of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Team at Shakespeare Martineau for around a year.
How did you feel when you won?
I was surprised and happy; I certainly hadn’t expected it. In truth, though I was dreading the steps to the stage!!
When Emma and I were back in the office (Legal Category winner Emma Gamble is a partner at Shakespeare Martineau) we were really spoilt – they popped the Champagne corks!
Which achievements are you most proud of?
There are two that really stand out. I had always wanted to be a lawyer and getting here is a long process and takes a huge amount of hard work. After the years of study and hard work the Admission Ceremony was very special, the icing on the cake.
Last year I was named Young Lawyer of the Year; the recognition is wonderful.
Where will your ambitions take you next?
The awards are giving me a brilliant platform for my career at Shakespeare Martineau. The firm has a great culture and emphasises personal development; I’m determined to be an associate within a couple of years.
In terms of the areas that interest me, I grew up on a farm so am really pleased to be part of the team developing our agriculture and rural affairs services.
What do you do outside work?
I help out on the family farm which involves rolling up my sleeves, driving tractors or looking after the animals. Being hands-on on the farm really helps me connect with my clients. I was recently approached about a faulty TB test and I really understood the implications.
And you’re walking to the Gold Coast?
Not literally! The firm has given us all a FitBit and we have a firm-wide challenge to walk to the Gold Coast in Australia. I’m definitely walking more now as a result and its really building up our team spirits during the Olympics!
What would you say to someone thinking of entering FirstPro?
Do it! Don’t hesitate!
I enjoy being part of the Young Professionals network and have made some great friends. The mentoring scheme has also been really valuable. It’s definitely worth getting involved.
Rachel Horner is Director of SFB Tax Solutions, part of the SFB Group. She set up the business unit in 2014 in response to a localised need for specialised tax advice.
How did it feel when your name was announced as the winner?
It was a complete surprise. I hadn’t expected it but I was absolutely delighted.
The response I got was lovely. People were very kind and I had plenty of congratulations. It was a really good feeling.
Tell us a little about your career.
I trained with one of the Big Four before going in-house to work for a FTSE Top 50 company, an international hotel group. I then moved back in to practice working with smaller businesses. It meant I had a really wide range of tax experience, from big corporate issues to those facing smaller businesses and their owners.
At the large corporate end you’re doing exciting big ticket, fast paced challenging work while working with owner managers is personal and incredibly satisfying. I love the combination.
Can you tell us a little about your team?
You’re only ever as good as your team and mine is superb. For the size of our firm we have an almost unique level of expertise able to provide really complex tax advice.
What are your ambitions now?
I want to grow the tax practice at SFB. I started with a small advisory team two years ago and we’ve since transformed ourselves into a sizeable practice. I want to continue to grow, taking on more staff and servicing more clients.
I also want to use the tax practice to win more clients for the SFB Group as a whole.
What do you think is the state of the Coventry and Warwickshire economy?
There is plenty of opportunity and we have some great businesses in our region.
Geographically we’re really well placed and have some real advantages over other parts of the country. We don’t have the high costs of the south but can access London easily; it takes us less than an hour to get there already and with HS2 it will get even ‘closer’. We’re also incredibly accessible to other parts of the country.
The biggest barrier we face in my work is perception. Too often people believe they can only get the expertise we offer from London firms. The result is they pay far more than they need to; we can offer it here, with higher levels of service and at far greater value.
What do you do outside work?
I’m a bit of a fitness fanatic. Spending time at the gym is my way of unwinding. I’m also a cinema buff and I love to travel – I always try and make it somewhere exotic!
Larry Coltman is a long-standing and highly respected litigation lawyer with his own Coventry-based practice.
We asked him about his win and his career.
How did it feel when you were recognized for your outstanding contribution?
It was lovely to be recognized in this way; I was very touched.
I’ve been around a long time and putting myself forward is not the sort of thing I tend to do so it was a complete surprise when I discovered I had been nominated by Louise Bennett.
Can you tell us a little about your career?
I came to Coventry to work with Warner Cranston, where I built up a full service office before we merged with a US practice in 2001 to become Reed Smith. When the practice moved to Solihull, we became Hill Hofstetter and I retained the debt recovery business in Coventry as Coltman Warner Cranston LLP.
I was President of the Chamber for two years, have been a governor of Coventry University and am now a governor of Coventry University College.
What’s your view of the local economy?
Brexit definitely has implications for our region, perhaps particularly JLR and its supply chain. Jaguars and Land Rovers are great cars and a lot are sold into the EU – I hope that continues to be the case.
I’m Chair of the Stratford and South Warwickshire Branch of the Chamber so I know many businesses, particularly those in the leisure, care and agriculture sectors are heavily dependent on migrant workers and are now concerned.
There are implications for my business too. Part of my practice relates to EU-related commercial agency work so there will definitely be some change and in the face of a recession businesses are cautious about extending credit so debt recovery work tightens. We are going to have to be flexible and adapt as our exit is negotiated and the situation evolves.
I’m perhaps a little pessimistic at the moment, but very much hoping I’m proved wrong.
You obviously have a number of roles around the region?
I’ve had a very good life so I think it’s particularly important to put something back.
There is a desperate need in the voluntary sector for all sorts of skills. The boards I’m on have a large number of new retirees; it’s a great way to bring your experience and skills to bear where they are really needed.
I’m also on the board of the Chamber and the board of the Chartered Institute of Credit Management. Fresh blood is crucial though so I’m always advocating new members join.
How do you unwind?
I used to run until last year, when my knees gave out training for the London Marathon.
I couldn’t do anything so took up cycling last March and now love it; 75-100 miles at a weekend isn’t unusual!
Business Development Director at Santander Corporate & Commercial, Ravinder Bagri has worked tirelessly to promote the bank’s commercial business offering, engaging with ambitious SME’s across Coventry & Warwickshire to help fuel their domestic and international growth aspirations.
Well-known, liked and respected within the West Midlands’ business networks, he was a natural winner of FirstPro Banking Professional.
We asked him how it felt to be named the winner of his category.
It was a mix of emotions – shock, surprise, excitement – but the overwhelming feeling was of being privileged and honoured, first to be nominated and then to have won.
What did your friends, family and colleagues say?
It’s been phenomenal. My friends and family were very proud and within Santander I was called and congratulated by members of the senior management team.
I posted the win on LinkedIn and Twitter and had a really positive response – there were lots of Likes and comments.
I was also really pleased with the profile the bank and our Corporate Business Centre in Coventry received from the win. It was good news for everyone!
Tell us a little about your career to date.
I’ve been in banking for over 27 years; first with the Nationwide Building Society for 25 years and Santander for the past 2½ years.
I joined Santander as Business Development Director covering Coventry and Warwickshire. My patch is now the Central Midlands, which includes Birmingham. I’ve loved developing my patch, constructing my own networks and moving into new markets.
Which are your proudest achievements?
I’m incredibly proud of winning FirstPro Banking Professional of the Year. It’s a high profile award and I feel honoured to have been nominated and then selected.
I’m also very proud of some of the things I’ve achieved in my day-to-day role. While at the Nationwide I set up a new business area, putting together the marketing strategy and building the team. Within 18 months we’d exceeded our targets and then won the Nationwide Building Society team of the year!
In Santander I was really pleased when they asked me to take on an extended geography. It was a testament of their confidence in me.
Where are you going from here?
I would like to develop an international role next, capitalizing on Santander’s European and global presence. The role doesn’t actually exist but I’m working on persuading my senior managers!
I don’t believe you should be put off by something as simple as the job not existing! If you’ve got a good idea you should develop it and put together a compelling business case.
And what’s your opinion of the regional economy?
We might be dealing with a lot of uncertainty right now but it’s important to remember the region itself has always been pretty robust.
We have some strong growing sectors, for example manufacturing, automotive, and advanced engineering and there has been a lot of Chinese investment coming into Coventry and Warwickshire in the past 12 months, which shows others are interested in our capabilities. I believe we will adapt to the new world outside the European Union and so am cautiously optimistic.
Do you have other roles in the region?
As a Sikh, making a contribution to the local community is very important to me so I get involved in a number of different things, including mentoring students at the Grace Academy and at the University.
How do you unwind?
I play golf, travel and of course love socialising with my family and friends.
Emma is an outstanding contributor to Shakespeare Martineau, her team and the community. She has climbed the ladder to partnership through hard work and a unique approach, bringing to bear her previous career experience working for a property investment company in Australia and then in the sales team of a leading Midlands Housing Association.
We asked her how it felt to win.
I was absolutely over the moon. It’s always lovely to be recognised isn’t it!
I’m not a solicitor, so my path to partnership has been different to that of most people, which makes it particularly sweet to have won this award. This award helps to show graduates and LPC students there are different routes to the top and all they need is hard word and determination and they can then opt for the path which suits them best.
How did people react to your win?
I’ve had some really great feedback; my inbox was full of congratulatory emails the morning after the Gala Dinner.
As well as being delighted with the award myself, it’s also a brilliant way to promote Coventry and Warwickshire and showcase the talent here.
You said your route to partnership was unusual. Can you tell us a little about your career path?
Eager to start work straight from school I completed a Business and Finance Apprenticeship before joining a leading Midlands Housing Association. Like lots of young people, I wanted to save the world and work within a not-for-profit sector. Many opportunities came my way and I was fortunate enough to work in Sales, Retirement Housing and later for the Executive Board and Chief Executive.
Many years later and after working in Australia I joined a local Coventry law firm, Newsome Vaughan who had just won their first Housing Association client. I joined at a junior level and the firm supported me within my studies. I worked my way up to Operations Manager, Associate then Partner, accredited by the Solicitors’ Regulatory Authority and the Law Society, as required for a non-lawyer who manage lawyers.
I am now a Partner with Shakespeare Martineau, Head of Sales for the Social Housing Team and we are market leaders in our sector. I am incredibly grateful to Louise Drew and Paul Saunders, both of whom I have worked with now for 17 years. They recruited me at Newsome Vaughan in 1999, saw the potential and gave me the opportunities I needed to blossom.
Which are your proudest achievements?
My best achievements are my three children and juggling work, my love of charity work and not forgetting my dog Roobarb, the chickens and a very supportive husband.
Where do you want your career to go from here?
I love working for Shakespeare Martineau. We have lots of great initiatives, like our in-house Academy, which supports the development of our own talent.
I want to stay with this firm and grow our social housing team to be the best in the country.
What would you say to the next generation?
We need to promote Coventry and Warwickshire to them. It’s easy to be seduced by the bright lights of Birmingham and London but you don’t need to leave our patch to have a great career. This region is perfect for combining a successful and interesting career.
How do you unwind?
Getting mental down time is important. I run at lunchtimes, kick box and go to the gym a couple of times a week. And of course I have to walk the dog and clean out the chickens!
It’s easy to see why Jenny Simpson, of SFB Group won FirstPro 2016.
At just 23 years old she is already a fully qualified Chartered Accountant, with her own portfolio of clients and responsibility for the firm’s Coventry Office. She also finds time to run her local Brownie pack and right now can’t resist being part of the team establishing a new Guides unit.
We talked to Jenny to get an insight into the DNA of a FirstPro winner.
What did it feel like to win FirstPro 2016?
I know everyone on the shortlist for Young Professional of the Year so I knew the field was strong. It was really exciting when my name was read out.
If I’m honest I wasn’t really listening when they announced the overall winner. I was still on a high from winning my category and it never occurred to me I might also win the overall award. I was completely stunned!
What has been the response to your success?
People have been really lovely.
I’ve had lots of congratulatory emails from the Coventry & Warwickshire First network, colleague and clients.
What motivates you?
I love helping my clients with their business.
One had never had the conversation about his plans and ambitions. He had never been asked what he wanted from life. What did he want to get out of the business? What income did he want? When would he like to retire? Would he like to pass on the business to a family member?
These questions go a long way beyond completing the accounts, but with the answers we can help him plan to get the outcome he wants.
This approach really excites me.
Most people are just beginning to think about their career at your age but you’re already running a team. How have you achieved so much, so quickly?
When I was 15 I got a holiday job in an office and loved the atmosphere. Immediately I just wanted to get into the working world and get on with my career.
I was considering starting A ‘levels and there was pressure from some for me to go to university as this seemed the ‘norm’. But I didn’t want the debt and with the support of my parents I got my way. I left school at 16, came to SFB and started studying for the Association of Accounting Technician qualifications at CWT. I’d always loved Maths so accountancy seemed natural.
After three years of day release I qualified and got straight on with my Chartered Accountancy exams.
Every step of the way I’ve been working with clients, giving me the chance to apply the knowledge and see the impact I can make on real businesses.
You’re running the SFB Coventry office. What are your plans?
I want to grow SFB’s presence in the city; I want us to be at the heart of the business community.
What’s it like running a team at your age?
I suppose age is just a number. It’s whether or not you’re good at your job that counts.
I’ve had plenty of encouragement at SFB and all sorts of great opportunities. I want to do the same for my team and really enjoy the coaching and mentoring side of team leadership.
How do you unwind?
I believe you should give something back to your community so I spend a lot of my time outside of work running my Brownies unit.
I love arts and crafts and the girls in the pack enjoy having a younger leader. It’s always great fun and very rewarding.
I’m getting involved in starting up a new Guide unit at the moment with the view to handing it over to others to run in the long term.
Finally what are you aspirations for the future?
Right now my focus is on my career. I want to help my clients get the really valuable, proactive business advice they need.
Often the smaller clients are unaware of the range of services on offer and the difference they can make to their operations.
And yes, I do want to be a partner in the business; I’m aiming to get there by the time I’m 30!
