Rockwell Archives - Patchwork Foundation

A Masterclass in Entrepreneurship: Donal Mulryan and Rockwell Property

Posted on August 19, 2021August 19, 2021 by Patchwork Foundation

Donal Mulryan, founder of Rockwell Property, is not someone that you can know inside out from a simple Google search. Although his 25 years of career achievements, architecture awards and financial successes speak for themselves, we were more intrigued by Mr. Mulryan’s personal development: how he made his way to the top of his field, and why he gives so much back in the process.

From our research, Mr. Mulryan had an extremely impressive resumé. Before founding Rockwell in 2015, he held directorate positions at Ballymore and West Properties, the latter of which he established in the early millennium, following the desire to run his own business. Reflecting on this decision, Mr. Mulryan acknowledged the risks he faced, leaving a comfortable and well-paid position to start from the ground up. He cited the effort it took to achieve his goal, but recognised he had no regrets about his journey. Talking about his early years as an entrepreneur, he emphasised the necessity to fail, telling us “You have to learn as you go”, which felt reassuring as many of us have just started on our career journeys, and will no doubt encounter challenges and setbacks along the way. Understanding and conquering those failures, especially in the wake of the 2008 financial crash, has definitely proved a fruitful tactic, with Mr. Mulryan’s companies winning several design awards and securing more developments across cities.

During our briefing, it was clear that the group was curious about Mr. Mulryan’s charitable efforts. Indeed, a property developer and entrepreneur from West Ireland does not have any immediate connection to Patchwork, or us young people and our political aspirations. When I asked about the reasons for his charitable nature, Mr. Mulryan simply explained that he loves giving back, whilst drawing on his own proud and normal background in order to emphasise the privilege of his position now, and how he uses it to bring capital to more disadvantaged areas. This is especially evident in his architectural projects, wherein he uses his developments as a way to invest in the local communities, through employment, training and housing. Mr. Mulryan’s selflessness is inspiring, but also grounds him in a way that may be unexpected for such a successful business owner, and is certainly something that we as Patchworkers aspire to be.

In essence, the Masterclass was different to our previous experiences as it showcased the benefits of an entrepreneurial, self-employed career: a thoroughly developed passion for your field and the freedom of direction, which can certainly be of assistance when challenges roll around. I am truly grateful to Mr. Mulryan for sponsoring our cohort and giving us his time, as well as his assistant Ms. Vince, and our own brilliant Yolanda Dixon for her excellent chairing skills.

Written by Zara Overton, 2021 Masterclass Programme Participant

A Masterclass with Donal Mulryan, Founder of Rockwell Property

Posted on September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 by Patchwork Foundation

I was particularly looking forward to hearing from Donal Mulryan, and was curious to know why he chooses to support Patchwork and in turn individuals like myself. I was worried that because it was virtual, we were missing out on the whole interpersonal experience, but little did I know what was about to come would be so much more.

When I asked him about how he was dealing with the pandemic situation and how he remains consistent, Mr Mulryan said, “Nothing has changed!”. He mentioned how Covid was another obstacle amongst so many he has faced over the years and that they will overcome it. Come what may, he said, remain passionate about your dreams.

The talk and all the responses from him had one main theme and I truly think Mr Mulryan does live by this ethos: passion, perseverance and pride. He shared with us his experiences, his journey and why he chose to become an entrepreneur. As the founder of Rockwell Property, he has achieved significant success, but his perception of success is not only limited to financial profits. He believes in leaving behind a legacy, creating jobs and improving the community around the building.

I can never look at a building as a few bricks and mortar anymore, it is so much more.

Overall, this session not only cemented my views of facing difficult situations, it has also reminded me of how important being truly passionate towards something really is. It also displays that whatever happens in life one should not lose sight of their passion and how important resilience is. The session has truly inspired myself and, I am, sure all the other Patchworkers that joined.

I could not have imagined the session going any better. I would really like to thank Mr Mulryan for taking out the time to speak to us and special thanks to fellow Patchworker Nick for his excellent chairing.

Written by Shaikh Asnain

2020 Masterclass Programme Participant

Before the masterclass even started, it was told that last year’s cohort particularly praised the session led by Donal Mulryan. Given that he is also a patron of Patchwork Foundation, I was quite eager to hear what he had to say given the sector he works for. Patchwork is all about making politics and democracy more accessible to marginalised groups of society and considering Mr Mulryan works in construction and property development, it wasn’t an immediate connection most people think of.

We began the masterclass like all of the others; preparation beforehand. This meant research. I was thoroughly impressed with how Rockwell, a construction and property development company, exhibited social responsibility and community engagement. What sets aside Mr Mulryan’s company was the ethics and values behind the company’s founding. Each project is followed up by creating sustainable relationships with the immediate community and engaging stakeholders at all levels. This is regularly followed up and the company constantly “reinvests” into the local communities that they are based in. Naturally, I was quite keen to understand how Mr Mulryan came to this position given the industry that he’s in.

Reflecting back, I think one of the reasons this masterclass has left a lasting mark for me, and in some ways was made more impactful, is because of Mr Mulryan’s articulation of his journey. It didn’t feel like a Q&A session or a tutor speaking to us. It was simply an honest account of Mr Mulryan’s humble beginnings to how he got to where he was.

One thing he emphasised repeatedly was the concept of leaving a legacy behind. He explained that each of us are able to do so and we need to figure out how it is we want this to manifest in our lives. For him, he enjoyed architecture and wanted to leave behind a tangible, physical legacy which meant that the pathway into property was a no-brainer to him.

Given his vision from a young age, the questions we asked really supplemented his points. We asked him about setbacks he faced and how he dealt with them. Most answers seemed really simple. Things like you don’t know how to deal with a situation until you’ve faced it,and when you face challenges, you learn from them and can use the lessons learnt to adapt in the next situation. He compared the previous recessions to the current COVID-19 pandemic and explained how there were elements from his past experiences which had helped him steer his company during this time, along with new unprecedented challenges that he will learn from and be more prepared for in the future.

I didn’t get to ask my question which I was quite gutted about. I wanted to ask what he would change if he were to start all over again with the knowledge he has now. For someone with a vision like his, I suspect there are lots of things he would prioritise differently to realise his vision. Nonetheless, the questions he answered eluded to what I think his advice would be. Learn from challenges whilst constantly working towards a clear goal and don’t be afraid to take risks.

I think this masterclass will resonate with me for a long time because of Mr Mulryan taking us all on a journey through his past to where he is now, rather than a lecture. If anything, this felt like an advice session with someone who is mentoring you rather than a tutor and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Written by Redwan Shahid

2020 Masterclass Programme Participant

Diversity & Representation inside Downing Street

Posted on November 1, 2019November 6, 2019 by Patchwork Foundation

On October 24^th, we had the privilege of being welcomed through one of the most recognisable front doors in modern history, 10 Downing Street.

We were taken through the official residence of the Prime Minister and up the main staircase where photographs of all past Prime Ministers (pending Theresa May) hung on the walls. The masterclass was held in one of the prestigious drawing rooms of No. 10, which hosted portraits of Queen Elizabeth I over the fireplace as well as other iconic British historical figures such as Ada Lovelace, creator of the first computer programme, and playwright William Shakespeare, as well as iconic artefacts such as the 2012 Olympic torch.

For this Masterclass we were lucky to learn from two individuals. First, we were hosted by Private Secretary for Economic Affairs, Lorna Gratton who, before entering Downing St, began her career as a Maths teacher. She later joined the Civil Service as part of the Treasury where she successfully progressed in her department to become Head of Domestic Energy Policy. The Private Secretary decided to apply her skills in management in the private sector, working as a Project Leader at the Bostin Consulting Group before later then returning to the Civil Service as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister.

It is always refreshing to hear and learn about the experiences of highly accomplished and influential women. The Private Secretary spoke with great enthusiasm about her role at No. 10, sharing her unique experience as having worked for 3 different administrations in the short time she has been there. She also shared the difficulties and barriers she faced, navigating her way as a woman in such a high-level role. As Private Secretary, Lorna Gratton is not affiliated with a political party or ideology as a civil servant. Instead, she advises the Prime Minister based on un-biased, factual, evidenced-based information and expert knowledge. Being a Private Secretary in the era of Brexit is therefore, a high pressure environment and there is an expectation to be ready at all times to answer questions with the most up-to-date factual information. It was interested to learn that Private Secretaries can be quite instrumental in the formation of policy ideas. It was eye-opening to recognise the many ways we are able to positively influence and participate in governmental affairs outside of Westminster.

We then had the opportunity to speak with Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Youth and BAME Communities, Samuel Kasumu. Mr Kasumu has led a successful career as a social entrepreneur and community champion as well as a published author of his book ‘Winning the Race’. As a leader to many individuals and advocate for BAME youths, Mr Kasumu often asks ‘who is in the room?’ to ensure that those in crucial meetings with the Prime Minister, reflect the multicultural population of the UK in which these decisions effect the most. Most recently, Mr Kasumu helped facilitate a reception for Black History Month which celebrated the best of black British culture.

Although we currently have the most diverse cabinet in Britain’s history, there are still bigger strides to take before we reach true representation and diversity in the nation’s most influential institutions. It was therefore, a privilege to meet both Private Secretary, Lorna Gratton and Special Advisor, Samuel Kasumu who demonstrate to aspiring young leaders who are traditionally underrepresented, that democracy is accessible to anyone.

Written by Isra Ahmed

Rockwell Property to champion development of young people in collaboration with the Patchwork Foundation

Posted on February 8, 2019 by Patchwork Foundation

Rockwell Property has today formally announced its three-year support for the Patchwork Foundation’s 10-month Masterclass programme; equipping 30 young people from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds each year with the skills and confidence to actively participate in democracy and civil society and inspire careers in government and the public sector.

The cohort of young people shall take part in a range of sessions; tutored by Members of Parliament, senior civil servants, government ministers, and distinguished journalists. The programme shall cover a series of themes including leadership, media and journalism, campaigning and policy making. The cohort shall also receive a Masterclass in Leadership from Donal Mulryan, Founder of Rockwell Property.

Founded in 2011, The Patchwork Foundation is a UK-based charity committed to strengthening democracy by engaging with young people from traditionally underrepresented communities. In previous years, many graduates of the programme have gone on to work in politics, charities and the private sector or pursued further education with the support of the Foundation.

Rockwell Property is a leading mixed-use developer working to enhance, grow and build thriving communities for long-term sustainable living. Rockwell puts innovative thinking at the heart of what it does, and its integrated approach means that great ideas move efficiently and sensitively from vision to reality.

Donal Mulryan, Founder, Rockwell Property said:

“I am delighted to support the work of the Patchwork Foundation. I am a firm believer in the importance of nurturing those with real talent and determination, as well as challenging them to make the most of the opportunities which exist. By hand-picking those with genuine ability and a commitment to social change we’re able to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives and accelerate progress towards the type of world we wish to see.”

Imran Sanaullah, Chief Executive, Patchwork Foundation, said:

“Following Rockwell Property’s amazing support in 2018, it is wonderful to see them committing to support the Patchwork Foundation for another three years. Rockwell’s important support enables us to champion the development of young people from disadvantaged and under-represented backgrounds across the country through the Masterclass Programme, and helps ensure that politics becomes more accessible for all young people, irrespective of their start in life.”