The reality check

Every now and again, life presents you with some cold, hard realities. As a Business leader, Dorset Chamber board director and ex-President of Dorset Chamber, Paul Tansey, shares his reflections.

It was 4pm on a summer Thursday. My five-year-old grandson asked me if I could play with him. “I’m sorry Jason”, I said, “Grandad’s working.” His little shoulders slumped, and he walked away, dejected. “Grandad’s always working,” he said to Granny. My heart sank. He was right.

I had promised myself it wouldn’t be like this when I had grandkids. They are so precious and grow up so fast. It prompted me to consider a re-think.

I am blessed. My life is incredibly full. Aged 56, I have a wonderful wife, three married kids, six grandchildren, three businesses, the MYTIME charity, my work with schools (which I have been struggling to do enough of), the occasional trip to help out in Ukraine and I’m a director of Dorset Chamber. I also love AFC Bournemouth and have a few motorcycles, which I struggle to find time to enjoy…

I love all of these things, but none more than my family. Something had to give. With a heavy heart, I called Ian Girling (Dorset Chamber CEO) and told him of my dilemma. He understood completely. So, after nine years, I recently retired as a director of Dorset Chamber.

Resigning as a director of Dorest Chamber was a really tough decision. Ian and I had been on the same team for nine years – ever since he took over as CEO. I remember telling him right from the outset that if he took this job, he needed to modernise the organisation – back then it wasn’t the warm, modern progressive chamber we have today. To me (and others I spoke with) it seemed stuffy and old-fashioned. It felt like a dark blue club for middle-aged men, in grey suits. He asked me if I’d like to help with that challenge. I couldn’t resist.

I was among his first appointments to the board. The goal was to change the image, culture and indeed the very nature of the chamber.

Today, the chamber is a million miles away from where it was. We routinely talk about menopause and the mental health challenges of business leaders. The last two presidents have been female, and the board is properly gender-balanced. In my opinion, it is the most progressive group yet. The image of the chamber is bright and positive, reflected by its vibrant colours – a modern mix of blues, pink and white.

The membership is warm and inviting. When I meet people at Dorset Chamber events they speak of the friendly, supportive nature of the group. Rather than a place where 700+ businesses go to sell to each other. I love that. Long-term relationships blossom easily and there is a genuine desire for friendship at its heart.

Of course, Ian Girling led this transition and, on a personal level, it’s been amazing to watch Ian develop and grow into a great local leader and frequently represent Dorset in all the media. After a while, it became almost routine to see him on TV. More importantly, he truly grasped the potential for social media and when the pandemic hit, he was there, all over LinkedIn, Facebook and the media talking to Dorset businesses and updating everybody on the latest news.

It’s been a great adventure and at times, great fun.

I’ll remember my year as chamber president with great fondness. The support I received from Ian, the board and my fellow chamber members was amazing. I feel emotional now, as I did then when I recall what we achieved that year.

Together, we set up Dorset’s largest Careers and Apprenticeships show (CAS) in conjunction with Catherine Beater and the good folk at The Careers and Enterprise Company. It’s a legacy I’m very proud of as, to this day, CAS continues to bring Dorset businesses and young people together.

Over the next 10 years, my grandchildren will make further demands and while I still intend to be busy – I’m not about to retire – I do need to make space in my life for them because Grandad can’t always be too busy to attend a football match or build a den, or a make a Lego tower, or design a mega hot-wheels track.

I’d like to thank everybody for their support over the last nine years, but especially Ian (and of course Sarah), the board and the Dorset Chamber members, so many of whom I now count as friends. Meanwhile, the Dorset Chamber continues to move forward and break new ground and I wish everybody involved every success.

Rest assured you’re not getting rid of me though, I’ll still be an active community member and promoter. See you at an event soon! Paul Tansey

Today, the chamber is a million miles away from where it was. We routinely talk about menopause and the mental health challenges of business leaders. The last two presidents have been female, and the board is properly gender-balanced.