Every year the BYPY committee gather round a table to discuss something that could make or break the event. The topic up for debate during these animated meetings is that of chair of judges. We’ve had some great chairs in the past including Gary Taylor, Paul Thandi, Trevor Foster et al. Each chair brings something unique to the panel, each chair is a leader in their own right and they all have many of the characteristics that BYPY winners possess.
Well, as this year is BYPY’s 10th anniversary, we’re determined to outdo all previous events and choosing the right chair of judges is a big part of our success formula. So, an hour into our chair of judges selection debate, a committee member pipes up with: ‘How about Glynn Purnell? He’s an entrepreneur, and a Michelin starred chef who has opened a restaurant in Birmingham.”
I must admit I had to take a step back and think – does this work? What does Glynn bring to the table (pardon the pun, and those that follow – I couldn’t resist)? The meeting was adjourned and all members had some food for thought. In the meantime one Saturday morning I turned on the TV to watch Soccer AM, however, when the TV automatically opened up to BBC1 I heard a strong, chirpy Brummie accent that caught my attention. I hesitated, ready to switch channels, when I realised it was Glynn Purnell cooking and talking away. I was glued, he held my attention for the duration of the show and his energy and enthusiasm were infectious. At the next meeting the committee unanimously agreed on asking Glynn to be our chair of judges.
We managed to get a meeting with Glynn and off we went to Purnell’s. Glynn walked in with the same energy I’d observed on TV, it seems to be part of his make up and comes from an inherent drive to achieve. I walked away from that meeting knowing that we had made the perfect choice in our chair of judges. When you talk to Glynn he talks about wanting to make his restaurant not only the best restaurant in Birmingham but in the country. He wants people to come to his restaurant in Birmingham so that they can experience everything that this unique city has to offer, an endeavour which he has in common with Birmingham Future and with BYPY.
After my visit to Purnell’s I began to look at the city differently. Glynn’s passion for Birmingham is evident in the pictures proudly hanging on the walls of the restaurant, which all show buildings from the surrounding area. What a beautiful city we live in! If only we all took the time to look up from our busy days and appreciate it. I left his restaurant feeling inspired and I realised that as well as having the characteristics that make him a great leader he has the ability to inspire those around him.
So in short, a BYPY chair of judges should be a successful business person (a big tick for Glynn and his incredibly successful restaurant), passionate about Birmingham and the opportunities available here (another big tick for Glynn) and someone who will have us hanging off their every word on the big night (and another big tick for Glynn). As a committee we’re very excited to have on the judging panel for all these reasons and we can’t wait to hear more of his anecdotes on the big night.
