A successful FirstPro, a wonderful celebration of the region’s young talent and an expanding events programme; a packed year for Coventry & Warwickshire First.
COVENTRY & WARWICKSHIRE FIRST:
• The voice of professionals in Coventry & Warwickshire
• Developing relationships that grow business
• Events that provide valuable business insights
Communication specialist Cathy Connan is taking over as Chair of professional services membership organization, Coventry & Warwickshire First, from Michael Durkin, Relationship Director at Santander plc.
Under Michael’s stewardship Coventry & Warwickshire First launched the incredibly successful YoungPro, a celebration of the next generation of leaders in the professional and financial services sector. Looking ahead to her year in post, Cathy intends to ‘shout about’ the professional services capability in the sub-region.
“Collectively our members advise local businesses on everything from complex mergers & acquisitions and investment decisions to HR strategy and communication campaigns,” said Cathy.
“Comprising the leading professional services businesses in the region, our member firms and the technical experts within them, are recognised in their specialist publications as leaders in their field. Businesses can get the advice they need right here, without having to go to Birmingham or London.
“This year we intend to shout about this capability, celebrating our members’ achievements in a re-invigorated FirstPro Awards programme. We are introducing completely new categories to reflect the collegiate approach of the region and moving to a new venue – Coombe Abbey – for the April awards dinner.”
Cathy will be supported by Vice Chair James Oliver, Relationship Manager at Yorkshire Bank. The two are working closely with the Young Professional network to build on the success of the inaugural YoungPro. YoungPro 2018 was launched in September at Mallory Court, nominations for the awards, taking place in January 2018, are open now and the new category of Apprentice of the Year has been introduced.
A series of new initiatives, design to inform and connect members, is also being introduced. These include:
– A programme of private dinners, beginning in November with a dinner at which Ian Harrabin, Managing Director of Complex Development Projects and Ian Flynn, Inward Investment Manager at Invest in Warwickshire, will lead the discussion.
– A members-only Leaders’ Breakfast, at which local politicians will outline their vision and answer questions from members on its impact on theirs and their clients’ businesses.
– Coinciding with International Women’s Day will be a forum in which the region’s female leaders can share their experiences with the next generation, who in turn will benefit from relationships that will help them develop their careers.
Introducing a new category to celebrate talented apprentices.
The search for the YoungPro 2018 was launched at a Gala Reception for leaders of Coventry and Warwickshire First’s professional services community, held at Mallory Court on 26 October.
New this year is the category of Apprentice, complementing the existing categories of Legal, Finance (including Accountancy, Insolvency and Banking) and Business Services (including IT, Marketing, HR and other business support services).
Coventry & Warwickshire First’s YoungPro celebrates the breadth and depth of talent within the region’s professional and financial services sector’s next generation of leaders. It is open to all in the professional services sector who are under 35 years of age and based in Coventry or Warwickshire.
Holly Brain, of HCB Accountants and Chair of Coventry & Warwickshire First’s Young Professional Network explained: “There is a growing number of talented young apprentices in our sector. We want to recognise both their achievements and invaluable contribution to our sector. Attracting the right talent is always a challenge; the growing popularity of apprenticeships is helping us grow our own.”
Vangeya Murphy of Shakespeare Martineau, the winner of last year’s inaugural YoungPro Awards attended the launch. Explaining what the award meant to her, she encouraged everyone to give it a go!
Nominations are welcomed from individuals, their peers, colleagues, clients and managers, with referees required for anyone self-nominating. Nominations are open until Friday 15 December 2017; all details can be found on Coventry & Warwickshire First’s website, www.coventryfirst.co.uk.
Each shortlisted nominee will be interviewed by a panel of judges comprising leaders in the sector. The judges will look for superb performance in the workplace, a commitment to the region and the all-important and intangible x-factor.
The category winners will be announced at a Gala Reception on Friday 26 January 2018 in the wonderful surroundings of St Mary’s Guildhall, Coventry. The overall YoungPro 2018 will be announced at the FirstPro Awards Gala Dinner, taking place on Thursday 19 April 2018 at Coombe Abbey.
Photocaption: Trish Willetts (Coventry Bid), Vangeya Murphy (YoungPro 2017, Holly Brain (Chair of Coventry & Warwickshire First’s Young Professionals Network)
Coventry Business Improvement District (BID) has been announced as the headline sponsor for YoungPro 2018.
Trish Willetts, Manager of Coventry BID said: “Sponsorship of YoungPro 2018 gives us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the developing talent in the city’s professional services sector. Having sponsored the event last year, we know it’s the perfect platform for promoting Coventry as a great place to work and build an exciting and challenging career.”
In its second year, YoungPro 2018 celebrates the breadth and depth of talent within the region’s professional and financial services sector’s next generation of leaders. It is delivered by Coventry & Warwickshire First’s Young Professional network and is open to all in the professional services sector who are under 35 years of age and based in Coventry or Warwickshire.
New this year is the category of Apprentice, complementing the existing categories of Legal, Finance (including Accountancy, Insolvency and Banking) and Business Services (including IT, Marketing, HR and other business support services).
Holly Brain, chair of Coventry & Warwickshire First’s Young Professionals Network said: “We’re delighted to welcome back Coventry BID as YoungPro’s headline sponsor, particularly in this exciting year as we introduce the new category of Apprentice.”
The search for YoungPro 2018 is to be launched at a Gala Reception for leaders of Coventry and Warwickshire First’s professional services community at Mallory Court on 26 October.
Nominations are welcomed from individuals, their peers, colleagues, clients and managers, with referees required for anyone self-nominating. Nominations are open until Friday 15 December 2017; all details can be found on Coventry & Warwickshire First’s website, www.coventryfirst.co.uk.
Each shortlisted nominee will be interviewed by a panel of judges comprising leaders in the sector. The judges will look for superb performance in the workplace, a commitment to the region and the all-important and intangible x-factor.
The category winners will be announced at a Gala Reception on Friday 26 January 2018 in the wonderful surroundings of St Mary’s Guildhall, Coventry. The overall YoungPro 2018 will be announced at the FirstPro Awards Gala Dinner, taking place on Thursday 19 April 2018 at the new venue of Coombe Abbey.
Fearsome craftsmen and £6,000 for Heart of England Community Foundation.
To read the full newsletter, click on the link [http://mailchi.mp/2182ae733fcc/from-june-first-friday-to-the-next-quarterly-breakfast-read-coventry-warwickshire-firsts-newsletter-to-find-out-whats-going-on-2371673].
Sarah Perry, Managing Partner of Wright Hassall Solicitors, was named FirstPro 2017, at a gala dinner held at the Ricoh Arena on Thursday 6 April.
“With a strong national reputation and leading a key firm in Coventry and Warwickshire, Sarah is an incredibly worthy winner,” said Michael Durkin, Relationship Director at Santander and chair of Coventry & Warwickshire First. “She embodies the professional services capabilities of our region and as such is an excellent ambassador for our sector.”
As one of only eight female managing partners of law firms in England, Sarah has been identified as a ‘Hot 100’ lawyer by the industry leading publication, The Lawyer. Chambers UK 2017 describes her as “a tenacious litigator who leads a good team with a very clear focus on what the client is trying to achieve”. Responsible for the firm’s ambitious three-year growth strategy, Sarah is also Head of Wright Hassall Solicitors’ dispute resolution practice. She is recognised for her commercial and financial litigation expertise and her considerable High Court experience.
Tim Powell, one of the region’s leading business consultants, was recognised for his Outstanding Contribution to business in Coventry and Warwickshire. He began his career in the banking sector, supporting SMEs. Then, as Managing Director of DBM Direct, he grew the company from six people and a turnover of £275,000 to 22 people and a turnover of £2.2 million. He went on to join Warwick University Science Park to deliver a pilot Investment Readiness Programme, helped deliver the Advanced Growth Fund and has been personally involved in the delivery to support of over 650 SMEs. Outside work he has helped organise the Coventry Fun Run for over a decade and is Director and Treasurer of Coventry Mind.
The category winners are:
Legal Professional: Sarah Perry, Wright Hassall Solicitors
(Legal Professional Highly Commended: Mark Lewis, Lodders Solicitors)
Finance & Banking Professional: Deborah Austin, Dafferns Chartered Accountants
Business Services (including Property) Professional: Jason Strain, Harrison Beale & Owen Financial Services
Young Professional: Vangeya Mhone Murphy, Shakespeare Martineau
Legal Professional: Sarah Perry, Wright Hassall Solcitors
Legal Professional, Highly Commended: Mark Lewis, Lodders Solicitors
A partner at Lodders Solicitors and Head of the Charity Law Team, Mark has been recognised by both the Legal 500 as ‘Elite’ and by Chambers as exceptional. He has been recognised as providing a ‘first class service’, ensuring ‘strategic plans are fit for purpose’ and focused on ‘achieving the best solutions in corporate and commercial matters’. Mark is active in the local community. Alongside Dafferns Chartered Accountants he runs a third sector group to support trustees and others in the charity and not-for-profit sector. He is on the local Chamber of Commerce committee and is the Secretary of the Leamington Spa Conservation Trust.
Finance & Banking Professional: Deborah Austin, Dafferns Chartered Accountants
Deborah is a local girl through and through having been born, schooled and professionally qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in the city. Outside work, Deborah’s passion lies in providing opportunities to improve life and career chances for Coventry children; she is on the Governing body of a primary school and a primary school federation driving improvements in Coventry. Deborah also runs the Dafferns Excellence programme which provides a group of up to eight Year 12 students the opportunity to learn and put into practice business problem solving skills through a week-long programme in a real world business situation.
Business Services (including Property) Professional: Jason Strain, Harrison Beale & Owen
Jason heads up the Financial Services’ team as Managing Director at Harrison Beale & Owen Financial Services, helping clients manage their money and plan their financial future. He enjoys providing clients with a sound personal finance plan and is a great advocate of long term wealth planning. He is an expert in bespoke company pension schemes and regularly carries out trustee work.
Young Professional: Vangeya Mhone Murphy, Shakespeare Martineau
The judges were inspired by Vangeya’s career journey, from being told she would never make it as a solicitor to becoming the 2016 Warwickshire Junior Lawyer Division’s Solicitor of the Year! Regularly winning new business for her firm, Vangeya has also taken on responsibility for training newly qualified solicitors and trainees. Keen to pass on her skills and knowledge, she is setting up a mentoring scheme for inner-city girls aged 14-19. The judges were very impressed by the breadth of her activities, from being a committee member at BNI, where she grew the membership by 29% during her tenure, to fundraising for local charities such as The Shakespeare Hospice and her local parish.
