Sponsor 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

Algbra to invest in new generation of leaders

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

Algbra has today formally announced its support for the Patchwork Foundation’s 10-month Masterclass programme; equipping 24 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 Patchwork Foundation’s primary focus is to promote and encourage the active participation of underrepresented and minority communities, particularly young people, in democracy and across civil society. The Patchwork Foundation does this by supporting and equipping young people with the fundamental skills and experience required to inspire dynamic engagement and to prevail within politics and industry. 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 policymaking.

Algbra, in its quest to build a balanced world, is committed to undertaking a systemic approach to tackle issues preventing the full economic and social progress of underserved and minority communities across society.

The Patchwork Foundation and Algbra – in this natural partnership – will invest in a new generation of leaders that will possess advanced financial literacy; that will deeply understand and promote inclusion and diversity across sectors, and that will become a new class of informed policymakers who create enabling environments for social and financial inclusion.

Imran Sanaullah MBE, Chief Executive, Patchwork Foundation said:

“We are thrilled to have Algbra on board with us bringing together two organisations at the forefront of new ideas seeking to create a better and more inclusive society. We look forward to continuing to strengthen this partnership and inspiring the next generation of leaders bringing a greater financial inclusion dimension to our work.”

Zeiad Idris, CEO of Algbra said:

“Partnering with the Patchwork Foundation is a good start to demonstrate Algbra’s commitment to taking a systemic approach to financial inclusion; both organisations share a core set of values and both are working hard to create a new and more inclusive landscape for future generations. We see this as just the beginning and look forward to continuing our relationship and building something for the long-term.”

If you would like to discover more about the partnership and the latest activities, please visit the websites below.

Patchwork Foundation – patchworkfoundation.org.uk Algbra – www.algbra.com

Humility and Impact: Masterclass with David Sleath

Posted on October 22, 2020December 7, 2020 by Patchwork Foundation

When a chance arose to interact with David Sleath, CEO of SEGRO, I took it with both hands. Having been made aware of the experiences of last year’s cohort, I knew he was an inspiring person. With the masterclass being held virtually, I tempered my excitement slightly – but little did I know the information and inspiration which he imparted during the session would be more than I’d hoped for.

Initially, when I first heard about SEGRO sponsoring Patchwork I was very much curious as to how they fit into the foundation and its philosophy. Prior to the masterclass my colleagues and I had carried out some research on SEGRO, exploring who they were and what was their purpose. Upon researching, I found a direct connection to SEGRO as a consumer which piqued my curiosity further.

The masterclass started off with Mr. Sleath talking about his journey from carrying golf balls, to being a partner at one of at the time U.K.’s biggest financial firms, to starting his journey at SEGRO in 2006, and now serving as the CEO of SEGRO. Patchworkers had the chance to pose their question to Mr. Sleath, covering topics including the Covid-19 challenges and how they are evolving to meet post Brexit needs, to how young people like myself can get involved in the property sector. There was a strong focus on effective leadership skills too.

The questions asked were varied, however, the way in which Mr. Sleath always humanised his answers really touched base with me. As an aspiring leader having someone already in a leadership position showing humbleness and eagerness to know how they can help their community really resonated with me. When Mr. Sleath spoke about different aspects of SEGRO he also touched upon how to be a great leader, he spoke about having good communication skills, being good with numbers, and last but not least having humility.

After the session ended there was one word out of the whole masterclass that stayed with me and that was humility. As a young person, how can I be better at showing humility and incorporating it whilst still developing other skills mentioned above? Another aspect of the masterclass that has changed me is the way of which I will not be able to look at warehouses, nor my Amazon packages the same again.

Special thanks to SEGRO for making this interaction possible with their constant support with the programme, and Mr. Sleath for taking the time out of his day to inspire Patchworkers.

Written by Lipa Nessa, Patchwork Masterclass Participant 2020

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

Flint Global to champion development of young people in collaboration with the Patchwork Foundation

Posted on July 20, 2020July 20, 2020 by Patchwork Foundation

Flint Global Ltd has today formally announced its support for the Patchwork Foundation’s 10-month 2020 Masterclass programme.

The programme equips 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, business leaders and distinguished journalists. The programme covers a series of themes including leadership, media and journalism, campaigning and policymaking.

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.

Flint Global is a business advisory firm that helps its clients succeed in an increasingly complex world, managing risk and creating opportunity. Flint provides advice at the point where government and business meet, offering an authoritative perspective on both. Flint are experts in policy, political analysis, regulation and competition.

Flint Global Managing Partners Simon Fraser and Ed Richards, said

“The Patchwork Foundation is a remarkable charity that helps young people reach their full potential and participate actively in public life. Individuals at Flint have been associated with Patchwork over several years and have seen at first-hand the positive impact of its programmes on the expectations and achievements of participants. We support Patchwork’s aspiration to make politics, business and public life in the UK inclusive and accessible. Our partnership with Patchwork will allow the Flint team to engage with a group of 30 talented young people in 2020 to support their growth and development.”

Imran Sanaullah, Chief Executive, Patchwork Foundation, said:

“We are delighted that Flint Global will be supporting our 2020 Masterclass Programme, enabling a cohort of young people across the country to access politics and further their personal and professional development. Sir Simon Fraser and the Flint team have been supporting the Foundation from the start, and we look forward to working even closer together. Their support and expertise will no doubt enable us to further champion our young people and create meaningful opportunities for them.”

‘Be true to your value set’: Lessons from Masterclass with the CEO of SEGRO David Sleath

Posted on August 8, 2019August 27, 2019 by Patchwork Foundation

We had the pleasure to meet with the CEO of SEGRO David Sleath who led the SEGRO cohort’s most recent masterclass. The title of the masterclass was Leadership in Business but the title does not summarise the wealth of advice and reflections David Sleath imparted upon us.

Within SEGRO’s London offices we started the evening with a networking session before sitting down with David. He opened the session explaining his journey to becoming a CEO which included his early life and upbringing, his formative years through education and the start of his career in Finance. Following 17 years at Arthur Anderson, his first graduate role, and having successfully made Partner, David took what to some was a risk and left his job to work for Wagon as a Finance Director. He has now been the CEO of SEGRO for the last eight years.

We had the opportunity to question David about his experience as a CEO, his thoughts on what makes an effective CEO and the advice he would give to us as young people as we develop our skills and our careers. The masterclass highlighted the importance of opportunities and putting yourself forward. Reflecting on what he would say to his younger self David said ‘…put yourself forward and take a chance’. Saying yes to varying opportunities does not have to be negative but in fact will provide you with the broad experience and skills that are needed in senior leadership roles.

The second point centred around creating opportunities for others. It was great to hear that SEGRO and David committed to ensuring diversity and inclusion within the organisation. This ranged from looking at pay levels closely to ensure there is no bias in the pay levels between men and women, to practising blind recruitment and ensuring diverse candidate lists. One thing I particularly admired was David’s commitment to lead by example on the diversity and inclusion agenda by personally not speaking on a panel if it is not diverse and gender balanced.

It was incredible to see a senior leader such as David take such a firm stance towards breaking down barriers. For me, what underpinned the entire masterclass was David’s advice to us all around being true to your value set. In essence this is staying true to what you believe. Once you have clarity around that, it becomes a part of your personal brand and how you put yourself forward to others. This message for me really opened my eyes to the importance of not feeling the pressure to conform to the status quo and to not hide all that you stand for.

Finally, three key pieces of advice I have taken from David’s masterclass that I believe anyone can put into practice to help them achieve their goals are:

To take advantage of the different perspectives you can bring to the table. In senior roles you need broad experience and insights across different areas. It is not always necessary to be the expert.
-Life is too short to be doing something you don’t believe in! Be sure to try several different things and find what you want to do.
Have a positive disposition to saying yes. If you hear the words “would you like to try” put yourself forward!

David Sleath spoke very honestly, openly and genuinely about his experiences in a way that has enabled us as Patchworkers to learn about the realities of being a CEO and how we too can build ourselves as leaders in our own fields. This masterclass took us on the journey of an experienced leader and sparked a fire for the start of our own exciting journeys.

Written by Rabi Wilson