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This was the message of Martin Reeves, Chief Executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority, who addressed a full house at the Belgrade at our quarterly economic breakfast.
Presenting the WMCA’s Strategic Economic Plan Martin spoke of Coventry and Warwickshire’s ambition to double the region’s output, beating the national average within ten years. He highlighted the complex challenge of improving productivity, which must be tackled to support the region’s growth and make sure that growth benefits those who live and work in the area.
Pictured Martin Reeves and Andrew Smith, Chair of Coventry & Warwickshire First.
Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs & Regeneration addressed our First Friday, held at the Charterhouse.
His message was positive and his stance supportive of business. Businesses create jobs and wealth he said, and while the City Council does not have all the answers it can support the growth of local companies.
He also argued Coventry needs to shout about its strengths and is keen to develop a marketing strategy for the city.
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!
Coventry and Warwickshire’s professionals raised £2,900 for the Cystitis and Overactive Bladder Foundation (COBF).
The region’s professional services experts donated £1,450 at Coventry & Warwickshire First FirstPro Awards, a sum generously match funded by Barclays Bank plc.
“We’re very grateful for this incredibly generous donation,” said Alison Irving – Trustee and Company Secretary at COBF. “Nobody likes to talk about their bladder, but when things are wrong, talking to someone with knowledge, understanding and caring is exactly what you need. We have been offering sufferers help and advice for the past twenty years. This generous donation means we can offer support to even more people dealing with this challenging issue.”
The region’s professionals raised a further £1,000 for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). JDRF funds research into type 1 diabetes with the goal of finding a cure, treating and preventing type 1 diabetes.
An award for individuals, FirstPro recognises exceptional professionals and showcases the depth and breadth of talent within the region.
Jenny Simpson, a client manager at Stewart Fletcher Barrett who carried the Olympic Torch in 2012 in recognition of her contribution to the local community, was named the FirstPro 2016.
Run by its members for its members Coventry & Warwickshire First is the only forum exclusively for professional and financial services firms in the region. Its members advise and support businesses from entrepreneurial start-ups to family firms and global organisations.
The Cystitis and Overactive Bladder (COB) Foundation gives support to people with all forms of cystitis, overactive bladder and continence issues together with their families and friends. It is the largest bladder patient support charity in the UK. It has the busiest message board forum in Europe, an the a widely used website and a confidential Advice Line for those bladder illness sufferers seeking information, help and support.
www.coventryfirst.co.uk
www.jdrf.org.uk
Jenny Simpson, who carried the Olympic Torch in 2012 in regcognition of her contribution to the local community has just received another accolade, this time for her professional contribution. A client manager at Stewart Fletcher & Barrett, Jenny was named FirstPro 2016 at a gala dinner held last night at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
FirstPro is run by Coventry & Warwickshire First, the only membership organisation to exclusively represent the interests of the region’s professional services sector. An award for individuals, FirstPro recognises exceptional professionals and showcases the depth and breadth of talent within the region.
Winner of the Young Professional category, Jenny beat tough competition from Coventry and Warwickshire’s leading professionals to secure the title.
“Jenny is a talented and driven young woman,” said Andrew Smith, Chair of Coventry & Warwickshire First and Partner at Shakespeare Martineau. “Last year was a big year for her. At just 22 she passed her professional exams and was immediately promoted to Client Manager. She now manages a team of four, looks after nearly 200 clients and showed a strong track record of going the extra mile for her clients.
“She also finds time to contribute to her local community. She runs her local Brownie unit and has served as a parish councillor, her contribution being recognised in 2012 when she was selected to carry the Olympic torch.
“Jenny embodies the approach we value. With Jenny and colleagues like her I’m confident our sector is in safe hands!”
This year the competition was incredibly tough. The judges selected the finalists from over 80 nominations, more than ever before and then interviewed each before selecting the winners.
Nominees are assessed against three criteria: performance at work; their contribution to Coventry and Warwickshire; and the intangible x-factor.
The category winners are:
Legal Professional: Emma Gamble, Shakespeare Martineau
Finance Professional: Rachel Horner, SFB Tax Solutions Limited
Banking Professional: Ravinder Bagri: Santander Corporate & Commercial Banking
Property Professional: Paul Rice, Wright Hassall
Business Services Professional: Phil Ewing, Harrison Beale & Owen
Young Professional: Jenny Simpson, Stewart Fletcher & Barrett
Highly Commended
Legal Professional: Jeremy Hyde, Wright Hassall and Hannah Bates, Shakespeare Martineau
Young Professional: Chrissie Elliot-Duxson, University of Warwick
An outstanding contribution
Three individuals nominated this year were 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.
The individuals singled out for this honour were:
Adam Dent, co-founder and managing director of Advent Communications;
Larry Coltman of Coltman & Co, his own highly respected litigation legal practice; and
Richard Hardy, founding partner of Bromwich Hardy and one of the most experienced chartered surveyors in the region.
The shortlist for each of category of Coventry & Warwickshire First’s FirstPro Awards 2016 has now been announced.
From more than 80 nominations the 36 finalists across the six categories – Legal, Finance, Banking, Property, Business Services and Young Professional have been named.
“The number and calibre of applicants this year has made our job incredibly difficult,” said Andrew Smith, Chair of the judging panel. “It does though highlight the great depth and breadth of the professional and financial services community in Coventry and Warwickshire and its ability to help grow the local economy.”
The winners of FirstPro 2016 will be announced at the Gala Dinner, being held at the Ricoh Arena on Thursday 21 April.
The finalists are:
Legal Professional: Emma Gamble (Shakespeare Martineau); Hannah Bates (Shakespeare Martineau); Jeremy Hyde (Wright Hassall); Larry Coltman (Coltman Warner Cranston); Lucie Byron (Wright Hassall); Richard Jenkins (Claric Legal).
Finance Professional: Deborah Austin (Dafferns); Jane Cooper ((UK Export Finance); Rachel Horner (SFB Group); Sanjay Myanger (Dafferns); Sean Farnell (Burgis & Bullock).
Banking Professional: Debbie Harper (HSBC); Narinder Dhandwar (Barclays); Ravinder Bagri (Santander); Roger Scott (Lloyds Bank); Sukhjeeven Nat (Santander).
Property Professional: Liz Taylor (Liz Taylor Lettings); Louise Richardson (Warwickshire County Council); Martyn Howard (Drake Howard); Paul Rice (Wright Hassall); Richard Hardy (Bromwich Hardy); Simon Davis (Assured Property).
Business Services Professional: Adam Dent (Advent Communications); Cheryll Rawbone (AJ Gallagher); Mark Moseley (Band Hatton Button); Neal Lowe (SFB Needham Insurance Services); Paul Sullivan (52 Global Consultancy Services); Phil Ewing (Harrison Beale & Owen); Phil Ingle (Phil Ingle Associates); Tracy Benbow (Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber).
Young Professional: Balpreet Bains (SFB Group); Chrissie Elliot-Duxson (University of Warwick); Jenny Simpson (SFB Group); Katie Chedgley (AJ Gallagher); Paige Howitt (Dafferns); Sophie Breeze (Dafferns).
The nominees were assessed against three criteria:
Performance at work: the winners are more than simply good at their job. They consistently go ‘beyond the call of duty’, perhaps providing something extra to their clients or making time to support colleagues beyond what might be reasonably expected.
Contribution to Coventry & Warwickshire: the winner is an individual who ‘puts something back’ into their local community, for example, working with a youth group in a challenging part of the region, volunteering with a local charity or serving as a school governor.
X-factor: FirstPro winners have the all-important x-factor, the indescribable element that makes someone very special.
The judging panel – Andrew Smith, Chair of Coventry & Warwickshire First and Partner of Shakespeare Martineau; Phil Peak Senior Account Manager at the Growth Hub; Martin Gibbs, Immediate Past Chair of Coventry & Warwickshire First and Managing Partner of Dafferns Chartered Accountants; and Brian McGinity, Treasurer of Cystitis and Overactive Bladder Foundation, one of the nominated charities for the 2016 FirstPro Awards – will now interview each of the finalists to select the category and overall winners.
Coventry & Warwickshire First’s FirstPro recognises exceptional professionals in Coventry and Warwickshire, showcasing the depth and breadth of talent within the region. An award for individuals, each category celebrates the leading professional within the relevant sector.
Run by its members for its members, Coventry & Warwickshire First is the only forum in the region exclusively for professional and financial services firms. It represents all the major professional and business services organisations in the area, who collectively advise the majority of the region’s businesses.
“Winning FirstPro Young Professional has brought new and exciting opportunities my way,” said Carl Malcolm, then of Dafferns Chartered Accountants and now of Legal & General. “It gave me added credibility and boosted my CV.
“If you’re thinking of entering, do it! You’ve got nothing to lose!”
He continued: “I enjoy making a difference and have always worked hard in my work. The moment my name was read out as the winner felt brilliant, real recognition for my hard work.
“The Young Professionals are a strong team. We support and encourage each other and they were especially pleased to see a member of the Committee pick up the award.”
According to Carl building a successful accountancy career relies on all-round ability. Adaptability to the business you’re working with, knowledge of the rules and regulations and, he believes, an inquisitive nature are important attributes. The ability to build strong productive relationships is also important.
Carl has all these qualities but it was his commitment to giving something back to the community that really stood out. “We’ve all been affected by something in one way or another and local causes provide vital support to those in time of need,” he said. “I believe we have a responsibility to contribute.”
While Chair of Young Professionals Carl set up the Mentoring Programme and facilitated the group’s engagement with Myton Hospice. They raised over £1,000 during his term. Since joining Legal & General Carl has been fundraising for Wooden Spoons through the national Rugby World Cup 2015 initiative.
“I was surprised and chuffed in equal measure when my name was read out on the evening,” said Vikki Whittemore FirstPro 2015’s Business Services Professional.
“It’s always lovely to be valued and winning FirstPro felt like the best possible form of appreciation.”
Vikki is Business Development & Marketing Director of Wright Hassall. The response of her colleagues in the firm was incredibly positive but what perhaps surprised her more was the feedback she got from others in the professional services sector.
“Lots of people came up to me on the evening and got in touch in the following days to say well done. It was lovely! It also showed the positive culture of the professional services firms in Coventry and Warwickshire.”
Vikki has noticed the impact of winning. “Offers have flooded in from Hollywood and apparently Kate Winslet is worried about the competition for the Oscars! On a more serious note it has made a difference. People check out my LinkedIn profile before we meet and knowing about the award definitely sets a positive tone.”
Motivated by professional pride and surrounded by a strong team, Vikki attributes her success to tenacity, patience and creativity as well as the all-important sense of humour. As well as being exceptional at their jobs, FirstPro winners make a contribution to their local community. Supporting Age UK Warwickshire Vikki is no different. “I support their campaigns and am a Dementia Champion.”
If you’re thinking of putting someone forward for FirstPro 2016 or entering yourself, Vikki says “Nominate! It doesn’t take long and it’s a great way to recognise the contribution and skills or your colleagues.”
Vikki is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s membership standards and professional advisory group, which promotes the marketing profession on a global basis.
James Walton of Sheldon Bosley, FirstPro 2015’s Property Professional of the Year says “go for it!”
“I was stunned when my name was read out on the night. Those around me seemed less surprised, which was very flattering,” he continued.
“Winning the award has been a real boost for me and the business. We’ve been able to use it in our marketing, with clients and prospects responding very positively.”
James, who’s motivated by a job well done and a happy client, puts his success down to professionalism, efficiency and expertise.
It’s this plus his commitment to the Coventry and Warwickshire area which set him apart.
Outside work he is a Director of the Warwickshire Rural Hub based at the NAC Stoneleigh and a member of the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership SME Business Group. He was appointed to the Midlands Regional Advisory Board of the NFU Mutual Insurance Society in 2013.
A registered RICS valuer, James is predominantly based in the Stratford-upon-Avon office of Sheldon Bosley. He works mainly in the areas of Land Agency and Agriculture, Estate Management, Planning and Valuation.
The search for FirstPro 2016 is now on!
Coventry & Warwickshire First’s FirstPro recognises exceptional professionals in Coventry and Warwickshire, showcasing the depth and breadth of talent within the region. An award for individuals, each category celebrates the leading professional within the relevant sector.
Run by its members for its members, Coventry & Warwickshire First is the only forum in the region exclusively for professional and financial services firms.
“FirstPro is a great opportunity to celebrate the professional services talent that exists within our region,” said Andrew Smith, Partner of Shakespeare Martineau and Chair of Coventry & Warwickshire First. “Spanning employment law to advice on deals and transactions of all shapes and sizes, financial services, property consultancy and communication strategy, our members have the skills and expertise to support the economic development of our region. FirstPro recognises both their talent and contribution.”
Nominees are assessed against three criteria:
– Performance at work: the winners are more than simply good at their job. They consistently go ‘beyond the call of duty’, perhaps providing something extra to their clients or making time to support colleagues beyond what might be reasonably expected.
– Contribution to Coventry & Warwickshire: the winner is an individual who ‘puts something back’ into their local community, for example, working with a youth group in a challenging part of the region, volunteering with a local charity or serving as a school governor.
– X-factor: FirstPro winners have the all-important x-factor, the indescribable element that makes someone very special.
Nominations are now open for the following categories:
– Financial Professional
– Legal Professional
– Property Professional
– Business Services Professional
– Young Professional
Nomination forms are available now from the secretariat (admin@coventryfirst.co.uk).
The category winners and FirstPro 2016 will be announced at a glitzy awards ceremony to be held in April at the Ricoh Arena.