Damian – Bringing The Rock To His Role In Finance

Damian Walsh – Bringing The Rock To His Role In Finance

Back in February Damian Walsh posted a picture from a rare day off without the family – he was in Birmingham laying down rock tunes in a recording studio. A far cry from his Director role in finance for Martin Walsh Architectural – or was it?

From a development deal with Sony Europe, managed by the Abbot brothers who were the team behind Oasis, to driving the family architectural company forward; we find out about Damian’s love for and journey with music, how it’s a key part of his corporate life, and ultimately how he is rocking his role in finance.

An Amazing Journey

Damian’s debut EP ‘Statement of Intent’, with his band Gravel, hit the airwaves back in the early 2000s. He recalls this as an amazing part of his journey – but as his dad and Managing Director of MWA would say candidly: ‘Nothing lasts forever’.

Damian explains:

“Other than having children I can hand on heart say that hearing your song playing on the radio is magical, but also surreal! It was a time where my passion took over and I let loose in creating music. It was a great journey, which I fully embraced. It just wasn’t my destiny!”

It Started With A Song

Damian’s love of music, to the surprise of his family, began at a young age and was unleashed by his brother Marcus who is a fellow director at Martin Walsh Architectural.

“My obsession started with a song. When I was about 10, Marcus told me that I had to watch Top Of The Pops because there was a song that was going to blow me away. It did!

“It was ‘Walk this way,’ the Run-D.M.C. version. This guy was screaming and I thought wow. That was it, I made it my mission to find every tune from Steve Tyler of Aerosmith and then moved to the back catalogues of similar bands.

“I then started to play with bands at school. At this time my family knew I liked music, but hadn’t heard me play! One year my drumsticks came with me on a family holiday to Devon. It was all I needed to enter a talent contest and blow my family’s mind. I just remember finishing playing and Marcus shouting: ‘That’s my brother on drums!’. A proud moment and one that I will never forget.”

University Studies

From the school hall to pubs and clubs, Damian then decided to study music at University and questions whether this, in part, dimmed his passion.

Damian adds:

“Looking back, I don’t think you should study an ‘art’. I know that’s controversial, but I believe that you lose your rawness and reason for playing in the first place. Or perhaps this is just what happened to me,”

After university, Damian worked in a record shop, and although he still loved music, he didn’t play anymore. Until he met two local lads and an old university pal to form a  band called Gravel, and as the saying goes, everything changed, for a little while anyway!

Everything Changed

“When I joined Gravel we were playing in a local venue and part of the old Creation Records team behind Oasis heard us. Before long we had a Sony Europe Development deal and recording at Dep International a studio owned by UB40.

“We had a great time playing gigs and venues that we had only ever dreamed about.”

“After a few years, it imploded! Then, in 2008, I had a good few years playing leisurely with a new band called Hookjaw. But, it was time for a new anthem. I needed a change.”

Those that know Damian, will recognise that music is still prevalent in everything that he does. Whether it’s his beloved leather jackets, his iconic rock-themed shirts that have become a beacon at networking events or his role in the infamous Suits and Vinyl.

But music is more than that, it’s a huge part of his day-to-day work.

A New Anthem

Today Damian is a Director at Martin Walsh Architectural, controlling all financial aspects of the company. He also covers HR and IT, in his words, ‘everything that an architect doesn’t’.

Damian comments:

“Supporting the running and growth of a business is not unlike being in a band. You have several voices to consider and each has a role. Some enjoy leading and being seen more than others and you recognise that you are better and stronger together.

“Equally you have to be passionate, driven and focused. In a way, being in a band also teaches you a lot about networking, which has been like music to my ears.”

Damian initially joined MWA, his families business, in a kind of architectural technologist capacity once he had completed a Building Surveying Degree.

“I have always been surrounded by MWA, it’s a family business. While I enjoyed my first role, as I lived and breathed the organisation and got to know it inside and out, I realised that I had more to give. So, when my mum retired from her finance role, all eyes turned to me!

Buildings That Work Harder

“I set about making the role my own and with full board approval I dissected the business. With support from Business Consultant, Andy Hartley, we took apart the inner workings and built it back up again.

“My plan for MWA was robust. While our talented team worked with our clients doing what they do best, we looked at our role, systems and processes.

“At the heart of every MWA project is a desire to create buildings that work harder. There is also a clear long-standing set of family values that had seen the practice flourish for decades. The approach we took helped us to bring these to the forefront.

“We ensured that every activity and output was directed to the business plan and that each individual knew their role, what they need to do and by when.

“I moved the business from QuickBooks to Xero and as a result, we were in a much better position to monitor everything. It paid off!”

Investment

Damian also started the company’s ISO journey. He guided the team through ISO9001 and ISO14001. He is starting ISO27001 with consultants ‘Like Us’, which focuses on cyber security and supports their migration from on-prem servers to the cloud.

Modernising the infrastructure and outlook, Damian has continued the company’s commitment to investment. As he pens, ‘growth is supported by continuing to invest in the best people, skills and technology’.

As an example, several colleagues have been supported through university. In fact, during 2018, the business injected a third of its overall investments into staff training and development on Revit, and business information modelling software (BIM).

This is not an approach that is typical of a company of this size, but is akin to that of a much larger organisation. What it does do, is demonstrate the family values which still govern the organisation today.

This dedication to the team’s achievements has had far-reaching benefits for the business, including increased staff morale and productivity. However, perhaps most notable is staff retention – 80% of MWA’s workforce has been with the organisation for over 9 years.

Friendships and Networks

Integral to Damian’s success are his friendships and wider network. This is, without doubt, a trait that runs in the family.

Damian explains:

“I believe that you are only as good as your network. Mine is close-knit and strong – just like a band really! It’s where we understand our strengths and help each other to thrive.”

In support of a current client, Damian has called on his contacts to provide invaluable funding and resource. Not only has this enabled the business owners to increase output, but also to retain more profit and reclaim what was due.

Another key part of Damian’s network is Suits & Vinyl, a regional networking event where people get to know each other over a shared passion for music.

Damian adds:

“Not everyone enjoys networking! Some are nervous, don’t believe it works or just don’t enjoy being in a room of unknown people,”.

“At Suits and Vinyl you walk through the door clutching your record and ask the first person you see what they have brought – there is your instant icebreaker. It’s relaxed and less formal and really good for those new to networking. I enjoy all aspects, attending and helping to organise it.”

Finding A Chorus

So, are we to see the resurgence of Damian’s music career?

“We’ll see!”

“During covid I started playing remotely with the old drummer from Hookjaw as a bit of fun, but this has now spiralled and there may be more to come! Whatever happens, music is essential to my life and also to my well-being.

“Some people have football and golf. I have music. It’s loud but it gives me head space. It’s my toy box, where I can unleash my child-free thinking and simply not worry. Almost like a chorus that anchors a song and brings it all together; music connects all my worlds.”