Working Day - Darrell Matthews

Jun 25 2008 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Daily Post

DARRELL MATTHEWS is regional director for the Institute of Directors in the North West.

Darrell lives in Southport with his partner, Joanne.

5.45am: It’s always an early start for me, but I am a morning person, so I am usually on the road for my commute between Southport and Manchester by 6.30am, using the time on the road to plan the day ahead, or just listen to Radio 5 Live.

7.45am: The journey is not too taxing this early in the morning, so I am often at the IoD office on St Peter’s Square by 8am. This gives me a chance to catch up with my emails and messages, check the main news stories, and discuss the day’s planned events with my PA, Karen and get ready for the first meeting.

9.00am: Each day, I have a number of meetings with the people who keep the IoD’s events calendar across the North West ticking over. Today, I am meeting with the organisers of the IoD North West Director of the Year Awards, Out There Events.

This is our “flagship” event, and I am informed that, this year, it will be presented by Gabby Logan. As always, it will be a massive occasion to plan for, as over 750 business leaders from across the North West, including last year’s Liverpool finalists Peter Cook, Simon Edwards, and Cy Green, should be attending the event at the City of Manchester Stadium, later in the year.

11.30am: One of the many morning calls I make today is a catch-up call with representatives from ProfessionaLiverpool, to find out any reaction and feedback to the Access to Capital event held at the Partnership for Learning Building in Speke.

This event, organised with the IoD, was a great success, attracting over 100 guests keen on maximising the investment potential of Liverpool’s Capital of Culture status.

12.30pm: Lunch doesn’t necessarily mean a break. Today I have to meet with the head of a large professional services firm to discuss the possibility of sponsoring some of the popular and informative networking events the IoD organises each month.

Past events have included breakfast seminars on the importance of brand identity, conflict resolution, and how to keep employees motivated and stimulated. These events regularly occur at venues throughout the North West, and are an excellent chance for directors to tap into new business methods and best practise trends.

1pm: After lunch, it is a quick stroll back to the office to briefly check my emails before liaising with the IoD events manager, Celine. Over the next few months, we are hosting talks by an MP in Cumbria, the chief executive of an AIM-listed company in Blackburn, a Business Breakfast in Altrincham and an Economist in Preston. It’s vital we cover the subjects our members want to hear about, and ensure the venues and locations are right for networking, and this drives the design of our Calendar.

4pm: I receive a phone call from Peter Snow, of BBC Election fame. Peter has kindly agreed to speak at the IoD North West Annual Dinner at the fabulous Gorton Monastery, in Manchester, and he wants a briefing on the event.

When I took this job, I never envisaged the number of inspiring and iconic people that I would meet, and Peter is certainly one of them. I’m of the generation that was introduced to Election Days by the Swingometer, and so I am a little star struck.

7pm: My highlight of the day is attending the Ethnic Minority Business Forum Awards (EMBF), as guest of the North West Development Agency. It is a great event and a real success story, with many inspirational people attending. Nighat Awan leads the EMBF, and they are making a real difference in promoting the strength of our ethnic minorities business community in the North West.

I spent the whole evening meeting some fascinating people who are a credit to the region, and would be a welcome addition to business organisations such as the IoD.

10.30pm: After the awards, it is time for my journey home. The nature of my job means that there are lots of commitments outside of the normal 9-5. However, opening my front door, kicking off my shoes and saying hello to Joanne has been a long time coming today.

Nevertheless, the work doesn’t stop, as I am led to the growing collection of bin bags waiting for me at the back door.