1.What was your career path to becoming the Bank of England’s Deputy Agent for the West Midlands?
After completing my masters in economics at Edinburgh University I spent three years windsurfing and surfing my way around the world before joining ING Barings in London on their graduate programme. In my four years at ING I moved around within the bank a fair bit, spent a year working in New York, and was running the bank’s South African and Polish interest rate derivative books before I left to join Bank of America, also in London. At Bank of America I traded the same products and markets as I had for ING, and at the end of my four years there I was managing the bank’s emerging markets interest rate trading desk. In the summer of 2005 my wife and I decided to leave London and moved to Argyll on the west coast of Scotland with our young daughter. This was a great opportunity to take a breather from the pressures of the City and to spend some quality time with our young family, and to keep myself occupied I established various small businesses, including a mountain bike hire company and a surfing and windsurfing shop in Campbeltown at the tip of the Mull of Kintyre. Friends are now running those companies but I continue to take an active interest in their management, albeit from a distance, as I am now based in Birmingham working for the Bank of England.
1.How do find working for the Bank of England different from your previous roles?
Working for the Bank of England is poles apart culturally to working for merchant banks in the City. For a start, there is none of the pressure to generate trading profits on a daily basis, the hours are much shorter and more flexible, and it is much more satisfying to feel that I am working towards the general good of the economy of the country, rather than for the benefit of corporate shareholders. Having said that, in a way I miss being in charge of a busy trading desk with all the challenges and responsibilities that brings. On the other hand, working for the Bank of England is also poles apart from running a surf shop – I’ve had to swap my flip flops for a suit and tie for starters!
1.What challenges have you faced in your role as Deputy Agent for the West Midlands since you were appointed in 2009?
Finding my way around Birmingham and figuring out how to avoid the worst of the traffic has been a steep learning curve, while crashing my car into my mother-in-law’s during my first week in the job also put me on the spot a little!
1.As we emerge out of the recession what do you think are the biggest challenges faced by Birmingham’s business community?
A common topic in many of the conversations I hold with the Bank’s business contacts throughout the region is how Birmingham will move away from being so reliant on traditional manufacturing industries for employment. As we look forward towards economic recovery it is important for Birmingham to establish itself at the leading edge of emerging technologies and to reduce its exposure to the more cyclical nature of the old world economy .
1.As someone who has started up their own business what advice would you give to any entrepreneurs who want to start up their own business within the West Midlands?
Take advantage of all the mentoring, advice and most definitely the grant schemes that are available to help you set up on your own. Research your potential market thoroughly to minimise the scope for surprises down the line, and be prepared to put a great deal of time, effort and, most likely, cash into your dream!
1.What benefits do you think Birmingham offers for graduates and young professionals?
As a young professional the world is very much your oyster and, as with everything, you’ll get out what you put in. With so many large, global companies having a presence here, there are myriad opportunities in Birmingham and with the highly developed networking scene in the city I think it’s very easy for younger employees to keep on top of new and exciting developments.
7. 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?
Younger people tend not to be so entrenched in their outlooks and, given the challenge that I think Birmingham has to find itself a new direction, the established interests and the collective enthusiasm of Birmingham’s younger generation should find it well within their reach to steer the city towards a defining new identity.
1.What role and influence do you feel an organisation such as Birmingham Future can play/have in the city as it continues to develop?
Having an active and connected group of people across the city and across many different sectors can only make it easier to find shared outlooks and common goals to help Birmingham develop. Business contacts are invaluable and, when you have them all readily available - as is the case with Birmingham Future - I find that it makes introductions easy and can be mutually beneficial for all concerned when you have a network of easily approachable potential helpers at your fingertips.
1.What are your favourite things about Birmingham?
Friendly people, a city centre easily reached from the airport by train, and hot, cheap curries!
1.Villa or City?
I’m more of a rugby fan, but supporting Scottish rugby is a bit of a thankless task at the best of times! My old boss in London was an avid West Ham supporter, and I have to admit that it wasn’t long before I was too, mainly because he would be in a much better mood on a Monday morning if the Mighty Hammers had won at the weekend. It’s a bit tenuous I’m afraid, but the claret and blue connection means that I’m going to have to go for Villa!
