In the words of Frankie Valli… ‘Oh what a night!’. So let’s unpack it shall we? First up, if you want to hear me talk about the evening, head straight for today’s podcast episode which you’ll find below (contains swearing, but we’re all grown-ups here aren’t we?).

You’re in the Army now

The venue was one that, mysteriously given that it’s only an hour away and I have children that used to be small, I have never been to. Taking place at the The Army Flying Museum it was the stuff of dreams for anyone who:

• Wanted to be a soldier or pilot when they grew up
• Has an interest in history
• Used to love watching Tour of Duty when they got back from the pub in the 90s (God how I LOVED that!)

I stood next to an Apache helicopter, shrunk inside at the sight of some of the weapons and marvelled at the fact that Dame Barbara Cartland was an aerospace innovator – I kid you not!

A tough act to follow

Sitting with former members of the organising committee (plus the Mayor and Mayoress of Test Valley – listen to the podcast to hear what I chatted with them about) I was regaled with how previous speakers had included Nicholas Parsons, Jenni Murray and Revd Richard Coles…no pressure there then!

You can only be yourself

Thing is, whoever may have gone before you, you can only ever be yourself. And what I’ve found to be true throughout life is with an optimistic attitude and an open mind, you’ll find that everyone has their own story to tell. And only I can tell mine.

So I gave my speech with an emphasis on taking risks, being non-judgmental about the backgrounds of others and how the more you are yourself, the happier and more successful you can become.

There was – as ever – the thread of my social mobility experience and how the cultural reference points of working class people can be stifled or made to feel unwelcome in the corporate space. And how that really doesn’t do anyone any good.

Council estate corner

Following the rest of the evening’s proceedings where highly commended and winners in each of the categories were recognised for their efforts – accompanied by these mad ‘pyrotechnics that are not pyrotechnics’ which made everyone fear for their flammable clothing and yet were 100% not generated by fire (how?) – some incredible conversations were struck up.

The one in particular that stands out is getting together with a photographer and a journalist who shared my council estate background and with whom I bonded over a shared knowledge of

• the thermostat being used as an on/off switch
• entertaining the children via the medium of reading the Argos catalogue
• when your mum would come round with a ‘bag of bits’

These might feel small and insignificant but they are a very specific signifier of culture. If you are a young person growing up in a culture that is frowned at or looked down upon, it is important to have people stepping forward that occupy professions and spaces you would like to be in who truly get you. Exhibit A: the photographer in question has worked with Wu-Tang Clan. Cue near hysterics from me.

Mentorship and sponsorship

One thing I’m always clear to point out is that no-one chooses where they’re born, or what family they’re born into but it absolutely does have an impact on the opportunities a person can access and we cannot kid ourselves that the world is otherwise.

I know my children are being raised with levels of financial and emotional security way beyond what I had access to. I know how hard it is to make that happen when your starting blocks are miles behind those of other people. And I never forget the mentorship and sponsorship I had from friends and colleagues who didn’t dismiss me out-of-hand because I didn’t have the right accent, or reference points, or shoes. We have to make sure we’re consciously playing a part in making access to opportunity more equal and acknowledging that if someone didn’t go to a “good” school or grow up in a “good” family, that is not their fault.

Acknowledging and celebrating our differences

I think it’s fitting that an awards designed to celebrate different types of businesses and different areas of achievement would invite someone who speaks about the need to embrace the experiences of others. Organisations included a local cleaning company and a horse yard, an electric car battery innovator and an agricultural supplier, a multi-national manufacturer and a physio. People of different backgrounds each making a difference in their own way.

Thanks Test Valley Business Awards team!

Huge thanks go to the team for inviting me to speak and for trusting me with their brilliant audience. I woke up this morning tired, happy, and looking forward to encouraging more people to share their stories.

Book me to speak

Got an event coming up where you need someone to sit next to the Mayor without disgracing themselves? Or who can get an audience really talking afterward? Give me a shout!