Business Profile: Business Connector's Jonathan Wales

The outdoor life has a special appeal to bank manager Jonathan Wales.

Indeed, the 47-year-old Mirfield man almost pursued a career in agriculture before taking a change in direction to join the building society sector.

Now he has embarked on another challenge – albeit temporarily – as Business Connector for Huddersfield, working to help local community groups and charities connect with business people who have the skills to help them thrive.

Jonathan grew up in Bradford and lived in the city until getting married and moving to Mirfield 18 years ago.

“When I was at school, I wanted to work in agriculture,” he says. “In the sixth form, I worked on a farm at Harrogate at weekends. I was offered a place at a number of agricultural colleges – Askham Bryan, Lancaster College and Shuttleworth Agricultural College in Bedfordshire. But I went to work on a farm in the Lake District and I just changed my mind. I decided it wasn’t for me. I wasn’t certain that this was the right career.”

Jonathan got a job with the National & Provincial Building Society in Bradford, where he worked briefly before getting a post with the Halifax. Within four years, he was managing his own branch.

He says: “Once I started at the building society, I loved it. I loved dealing with people and helping them to get their own homes.”

During his career, he saw the Halifax move from being a mutual to a bank and its merger with Lloyds.

“I have worked for the Halifax for 28 years, joining in 1986,” says Jonathan. “I have worked in a large number of branches – Brighouse, Heckmondwike, Huddersfield, Halifax, Wakefield, Bradford and Skipton. I was a branch manager at the age of 23 when I was appointed to Heckmondwike, which was probably the smallest branch.

“I worked my way up to the branch at Cloth Hall Street where I was manager from 2010 and moved to the Halifax branch at Christmas.

“I worked briefly at head office in Halifax and in Leeds about 15 years ago, but that didn’t last long because I preferred to be working with the customers.”

Now Jonathan has been seconded to take up a one-year post as Business Connector for Huddersfield. It’s part of a national scheme run by Business in the Community to encourage businesses to assist Third Sector organisations achieve their aims.

Jonathan, who has been in post only a few weeks, succeeds Mark Yarwood, a colleague at Lloyds Banking Group, in the role.

“I have been five weeks in the job,” says Jonathan. “I spent a couple of weeks in induction and training and I have been out and about for three weeks. I have been to see some businesses and a lot of charities as well as Kirklees Council. I have also had a meeting at Huddersfield University Business School.

“Everyone has been very helpful and everyone has been happy to meet me. Things are starting to come together.

“The charities I have met have all sorts of things they need help with. Businesses can help, whether its offering the use of facilities or professional services and I have already connected some people together already.

“Charities are always looking for funding and I have already helped with a couple of applications for funding.

Another very common theme is help with marketing. Sometimes, the charities don’t always know what they mean by ‘marketing’ and I am trying to find contacts who can help particularly with that. For instance, the business school at the university has marketing students who can help charities while using it as a ‘real life’ marketing project.”

Says Jonathan: “I have spoken to a lot of charities. I need to talk to a lot more businesses, but it is early days yet. People are very pleased to see me – they realise I have no agenda and I am not trying to sell them something. I’m just trying to help businesses, charities and social enterprises.”

Jonathan says: “I heard about Business Connectors through my predecessor, who approached me looking for a volunteer among my colleagues for a project he was working on. I thought it was a wonderful opportunity. I’m working in the community in which I love. I want to help people, it’s as simple as that.

“I had a completely open mind when I went into the role. Working for one organisation for so long can give you only one perspective.

“I thought it would be good for me to see aspects of the community in which I work – and work to improve community cohesion, employment, enterprise and opportunity.

“I like working with people and I am happy to help wherever I can – but it’s been a massive learning experience as well as a massive opportunity for me.”

Jonathan says that the Business Connector scheme is vital in an environment of public sector cutbacks to help charities and community groups get the advice to help them stand on their own two feet and by truly sustainable.

Business in the Community is one of the Prince of Wales’ charities and its central function is lottery-funded. However, the Business Connectors is funded by the businesses that second them,

Jonathan may have ditched a career in farming, but he enjoys the outdoor life. “I have recently volunteered for the National Trust at Marsden Moor with a view to doing patrols and guided tours,” he says. “I like to get out and about when I have the opportunity.

“Over the past few years, I have also been helping my father-in-law rebuild an MGB, which I found really interesting and enjoyable.”

Recalling his early career, he says: “The first branch manager I went to work for in Bradford was in his late 50s. All bank managers seemed old at that time!

“In my job interview, he said: ‘I think you will be the only person working here who knows how to milk a cow and dip sheep.’ “I didn’t think he would employ me, but he did. You have to give people a chance to prove themselves.”

Jonathan Wales

Role: Business Connector

Age: 47

Holidays: Devon and Cornwall

Car: Ford SMax

First job: While at school I worked for a milkman, delivering milk and collecting the money on Friday evenings.

That helped me get to know how to interact with people - knocking on hundreds of doors

Best thing about the job? The variety because every day is different. I have the freedom to make decisions and make things happen

Worst thing about the job? The role is only a one year-secondment. I’d love it to be for longer because I’m really enjoying this

Business tip: Seize every opportunity you can, If you don’t, you will always be wondering what might have been

Work: Helping businesses and community groups work together

Site: Huddersfield