IT is early September so perhaps I should do what most of LinkedIn appears to be currently doing and list all the things I did over the summer and my “learnings” from them…
Or perhaps I won’t.
Except to say that I’ve learned that if you go to Corfu in August it is going to be very hot.
And there is a new travel hazard out there for anyone passing through Leeds Bradford Airport during the peak holiday season.
Our shins and calves have all probably had an encounter with wheelie cases being dragged along by careless holidaymakers.
But now there is a new peril lurking amongst the tattooed and athleisure-clad hordes in airport departure lounges.
It is the lip implant.
If that is what is known colloquially as the ‘trout pout’ is called.
Several times while queuing at Leeds Bradford Airport and boarding a Jet2 flight I had to duck as the lady in front of me turned around sharply.
I was forced to take evasive action to avoid injury from those who had undergone lip augmentation.
I’m used to a sharp crack in the shin from a wheelie case but I was keen to avoid a collision that I can only imagine is akin to getting slapped by two wet pilchards.
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THE first business event of the “autumn term” was held last night by Leeds-based lender Reward Funding.
Founded 15 years ago to take advantage of the lack of appetite for lending by traditional banks, the business grew rapidly under well known figures Dave Jones and Tom Flannery.
Its progress was highlighted by managing director Gemma Wright when she addressed guests at a drinks party on the seventh floor rooftop of their office in King Street in Leeds last night.
“When I joined eight years ago Reward did £50m of funding and today we are at £350m,” she said.
With five UK offices and more than 90 employees, Reward is now more than just a “disruptor” in the UK finance sector and an annoyance to the lumbering traditional banks.
It was wonderful to see Karen Paige, one of the four-strong original team that started Reward.
That’s me with Karen on the left and Gemma on the right in the photograph above taken by their colleague Nigel at last night’s do.
The hirsute character behind us is Damian Walsh who brings a rock n’ roll approach to being a finance director for an architectural firm and is one of the driving forces behind Leeds networking event Suits & Vinyl.
Karen is a bubbly, warm character who once took me to the MOBO music awards at Leeds Arena.
We spent the entire evening trying to name any of the acts that were performing.
But I do think many fellow members of the audience had an appreciation for the cravat I was wearing.
I helped Karen’s daughter Amy out with some work experience a few years ago and she has gone on to a very successful marketing career working with fashion brand Michael Kors and is now at luxury fragrance group Creed.
Karen told me Amy got married last month and showed me fantastic photos of the ceremony at a London town hall taken by the official photographer, who works for Vogue.
As I sipped a glass of champagne and nibbled a halloumi canape I reminded Gemma Wright of the time I met her during her first week at Reward.
I was attending the Harrogate Business Lunch and, as was the tradition, headed to the Coach & Horses pub in town after the event.
Gemma, who was driving, offered to give a couple of us a lift into the spa town but she struggled to remove her three-year-old son’s child seat from the back of the car.
I gamely and nobly offered to sit in the back and plonked myself into the child seat.
I remember that Gemma was very impressed that I had a derriere small enough to fit into it.
It remains one of my proudest moments.
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I’M looking forward to several events I’m compering in the coming weeks.
Next week I’m MC at the Leeds Hospitals Charity Ball in Harrogate and then in the first week in October I’m compering a panel discussion during Leeds Digital Festival and the Yorkshire Property Charitable Trust annual lunch at Leeds Arena.
The property lunch is a yearly gathering of the great and good of the property world in Yorkshire and this year they have signed up one of the most impressive individuals in sport as the guest speaker.
Rugby league and fundraising legend Kevin Sinfield will bring inspiration to the audience at the arena at the event which this year is raising money for the Candlelighters charity.
It is a huge coup by Craig Burrow and his fellow trustees at the Yorkshire Property Charitable Trust.
The lunch is a celebration and fundraising event which follows the annual football and netball matches keenly contested by the more athletic members of the Yorkshire property community.
I’m really looking forward to helping make it a cracking event.
There are a few tables still available to book contact Kathryn Hodgson on email at kathryn@gvproperty.co.uk
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WHEN I flew out of and into Leeds Bradford Airport last month it was an opportunity to view the ongoing work taking place to improve the terminal.
The new baggage reclaim hall is an improvement but for passengers flying out of LBA the only current tangible upgrade is new machines that mean you no longer get shouted at to remove your laptop at security.
While sipping a matcha green tea and reflecting on life and the universe while waiting for my flight I bumped into Yorkshire entrepreneur Richard Doyle.
Richard, who founded, grew and successfully sold IT group Esteem Systems, now runs a peer advisory board for business people called Pabasso.
I know Richard is a bit of a country man.
I had to type that last line carefully.
I said he looked like he was dressed for far-away adventures game hunting and fly fishing.
Like a Yorkshire Indiana Jones with a grey bouffant.
“No, I’m going to Portugal to meet my wife and kids for her birthday. I don’t usually travel in August,” he replied, gazing across the bar areas as travellers tucked into the traditional 5am full English breakfast washed down with a pint of lager.
I told Richard he’d just won the game I always play when travelling through LBA – I view people in the airport and try to find someone I wouldn’t mind sitting next to on the flight.
Sometimes it can be like searching for a needle in a haystack, but I proudly informed Richard that I’d be happy to sit alongside him.
“Well I’ve already seen a few I’d rather sit next to rather than you!” he said with a wave before heading off to board his flight to the Algarve.
Charming.
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I’VE spent the summer getting to know a new client who I’m working with.
We’ve met several times and have built what I think is a relationship based on trust and mutual respect.
In fact, I bought a copy of a book he wrote a few years ago, read it and then asked him to sign it at our last meeting.
If I’m going to help and support him with reputational issues then I need to know everything I can about him and he must know and trust me and I have to make a lasting impact on him.
After our meeting I opened the cover of the book and looked at his inscription.
“To Derek. Enjoy the read.”
Have a great weekend.
Love Derek. Xxx