Future Focus: Kurt Jacobs
1. What was your career path to becoming Head of Public Relations at Marketing Birmingham? It was rather unplanned. I came to Birmingham in 1994 to work on The Post’s business desk, under the tutelage of the legendary John Duckers, and rose to become deputy business editor, specialising in media. I was headhunted to become editor of the marketing magazine of Adline – now The Drum – before working as a freelance journalist and PR writer. I joined Insider in late 1995 magazine, becoming editor after a year or so.
2. What made you want to get involved in Marketing Birmingham? It was an opportunity too good to miss. I loved working in journalism –leaving Insider was the hardest professional decision I’ve ever had to make – but the chance of becoming a spokesman for one of Europe’s greatest cities was too much to refuse. I’ve been writing about Birmingham for 15 years, particularly marketing and PR, so it’s a chance to do things I’ve been preaching for years.
3. How important do you feel it is for us to have an organisation like Marketing Birmingham promoting the city to outsiders? Vital. Birmingham sells itself – once you get people here. The reputation of the city has improved enormously over the past few years as a centre for business, food, the arts, academia – the list goes on. With developments like the NEC and Brindleyplace Birmingham created the model for modern urban regeneration and opportunity. The problem with Birmingham is an abundance of choice and opportunity – how do you market the potentials of a million people and what they have to offer? We have to be selective and focussed in our aims.
4. What impact has the recession had on marketing the city? If anything it’s increased the importance of marketing. The recession has hurt us, as it has every other city, and we have to look at how we win and retain business, and that means continuing to develop Birmingham as a globally-recognised and respected brand. Fortunately Birmingham’s public and private sectors have become astute in recognising the value of effective marketing and the importance of working as a team.
5. What benefits do you think Birmingham offers for graduates and young professionals? I’ve worked in a number of places and Birmingham is the most meritocratic of them all. The great thing about Birmingham is that it embraces anyone that embraces it, and that goes for young professionals. Many senior executives in the professions are dedicated to bringing their younger staff on – they really want them to succeed.
6. Although the UK has an ageing population, Birmingham is one of Europe’s youngest cities, how important do you think this is for the future of the city? This is possibly Birmingham’s greatest single asset but one we don’t yet make enough of. There’s a saying that Berlin is the history of 20th century Europe in a single city, I believe this is Birmingham’s role in the 21st – the city that embodies youth, cultural diversity, regeneration, communications. Birmingham is providing the template that other European cities will have to follow, and is doing it rather well.
7. Birmingham Future nurtures the next generation of leaders – how important is the role of young professionals in shaping the city and do you think we are granted a big enough voice in decision-making in Birmingham? Young professionals do have a big say in the city’s decision making. I’ve been at a lot of important meetings where, for someone in their mid-40s, it’s glaringly obvious I’m the oldest person in the room. It’s notable that while Birmingham has a huge array of networking organisations they tend to be inclusive and facilitating rather than exclusive old boys’ networks.
8. Whilst at Midlands Business Insider, you pioneered the ’42 Under 42’ Awards; what characteristics did you look for in these candidates? As we said on the entry forms for 42 Under 42 it’s impossible to define star quality – but you know it when you see it. Some candidates’ careers simply leapt off the page. The difficulty of judging was that the quality of entries was consistently so high, but the range was so wide. How do you compare someone who has steered a third generation family firm with an entrepreneur who has a commercial and revolutionary idea?
9. What are your favourite things about Birmingham? In no particular order: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, the Jewellery Quarter, St Philip’s Square, Black Sabbath, The Electric Cinema, Steel Pulse, Hudson’s Coffee House, Bull Ring Indoor Market, The Queen’s Arms on Newhall Street, The Edwardian Tea Room, Cannon Hill Park.
10. Villa or City? Um, neither I’m afraid. For my sins it’s Welsh rugby – it’s the non-Birmingham indulgence I allow myself.
From Tomorrow’s Leaders to Today’s Influencers – by Matt Taylor
June 17, 2009 · 1 Comment
Last week, more than 600 young professionals and guests from across the business community gathered at the ICC to discover who will be the leading accountants, lawyers, surveyors, recruiters, communicators and entrepreneurs of the next generation. Even in the midst of a major economic downturn, record numbers drank and danced well into the night, celebrating the crop of talent that will be major figures in the future. But BYPY – Birmingham’s Young Professional of the Year – has always been about more than the brightest brains in the smartest suits. From the first winner, Gary Taylor, director of Argent, to this year’s winner Suzie Branch, of BHMG, it’s been about celebrating the combination of professional skills with a genuine commitment to making Birmingham an even better place in which to live and do business.
Power50, established by Birmingham Future in partnership with the Birmingham Post, is a logical extension of BYPY. From looking at leaders of the future, we assess who holds the levers of power and influence today. Like BYPY, it’s not just about the stars – those who occupy the obvious positions of power – but those who wield influence that can better Birmingham. More important than those who stand out, Power50 is about those who stand behind as we seek to identify those who either offer quiet leadership or who are not yet making their voices heard as widely as their potential allows.
The last ten days in British politics has been a rolling lesson in leadership. We have heard a lot of talk about the importance and qualities of leadership, but very little depth on what defines a great leader. In Birmingham, many have remarked on the apparent lack of leadership.
Historically, the city has spawned more than its fair share of civic and business leaders. Today, however, the pickings aren’t so rich. Cities that have global ambitions need more than just a few stand out names. We need leaders of all ages, from all sectors and of all backgrounds to put forward their ideas, articulate their visions and lead us to new heights.
Power50 was not born of having no leaders, but from having too few. More importantly, we found that Birmingham’s leadership was far from diverse.
This year, we have lined up an esteemed panel of judges, headed by Dermot Finch, director of Centre for Cities, to help decide who should be in the Power50. He’s our most independent chair of judges to date, coming from outside of Birmingham, and an expert on what makes a successful city. I can’t wait for what should prove a fascinating day of judging.
This year’s scheme will benefit from even wider use of social media channels and tools, appropriate for a city where digital media is such a strength. It will allow more people to point judges toward those who should be considered. I’m hoping we identify and include more surprise names in the list, with even fewer of the usual suspects.
But like all league tables, Power50 should not to be taken too literally. It’s an art not a science. We will be as objective as we can. But, we are out to provoke, inspire and reflect.
The list will be revealed on 30 July at a special launch event to coincide with Birmingham Future’s AGM. I want to give particular thanks to Argent and Gary Taylor for providing us with a fitting venue for such an important event. Number Eleven Brindleyplace will be our stage for revealing the Power50, and as I saw at the recent launch, in building terms Number Eleven can already claim to be a leader in its own right.
So, please take the opportunity to influence the judges and tell us who has most influence in Birmingham. Who knows, perhaps Power50 will include a few more former BYPY winners this year so completing the circle?
Categories: BYPY · Chairman's Comments · Forthcoming events...