PJ Ellis (00:38)

today on Witten grit were joined by Doug Wright a man who started on 93

Pence an hour in McDonald's broke his neck at 21 rebuilt his life from scratch and went on to become one of the UK's most impactful business and community leaders. This one is going to be about resilience, reinvention and the real meaning of service. Welcome to the pod, Doug.

Andy (01:02)

Welcome, Doug.

Doug Wright MBE (01:04)

Yeah, thank you very much for having me. I've been looking forward to this one with you too very much so, thank you.

PJ Ellis (01:09)

No, you're welcome. We can't not jump straight into the news that we've seen on LinkedIn today. Tell us a little bit more about this kids village news, Doug.

Doug Wright MBE (01:17)

Yeah, mean, kids village is going to be a UK first. And I was approached a couple of years ago about building a village, a respite holiday village for children who are poorly, who are some will get better and most won't. And so, you know, we can't make the children better, but what we can do is create magical holidays for them and their families and magical memories. So I was asked to chair it a couple of years ago.

You know, and it's been a privilege and an honor, very hard work, you know, turning a field into a UK national charity or 30 acre field. So we had to assemble a subject matter expert board of trustees. And then along the way, I had to come up with some compelling tactics, you know, whether it was a seeing is believing site office or building a road speculatively or whatever.

But yeah, the breaking news overnight is that we have raised 5.3 million pounds and we are going to be open around three years ahead of schedule and we are going to be able to deliver transformational social impact for families. The site is just outside Litchfield. It's in a place called Wichnaw and it's incredibly Willy Wonka-esque. Probably not very professional term, but best depicts it.

It's very calm, very magical. It's surrounded by nature, forest and trees, and was the brainchild of a lady called Sam Goodwin Fletcher, who had a rare form of facial cancer at the age of nine. Her and her family were sent by John Caldwell to a special village in America. And many, many years on, they wanted to create something in Lichfield. They had an idea, they had a site.

but they just didn't know how to bring it to fruition. So fast forward me arriving and we promised that we would get the funds by 2030, get it built by 2030. And it looks like we're not going to get found out on this one because you know, we're going to be opening three years ahead of schedule. And because of the incredible, which is probably not a big enough word, donation of 2.9 million pounds yesterday by a

family that wish to remain anonymous. We will be sharing news about how that donation is going to be put into play at our first Kids Village sites. But I think it's fair to say already that, you know, we're big dreamers that, you know, we want to be able to replicate this and not just do one, but have one in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. yeah, probably I said a couple of years ago when we launched at Presenda,

it would be the biggest achievement if we pull it off. So, you know, anybody can run a business, but not everybody can bring everyone together to do something which is going to have impact. feeling super proud in brackets, still got to build it, still got to deliver the experience, but school report on this one reads well.

PJ Ellis (04:29)

School report reads well. That's fantastic news, mate.

Andy (04:31)

Yeah.

Congratulations

Doug and everyone involved.

Doug Wright MBE (04:36)

It's not just me, it's the West Midlands. You know, it would be wrong to sit here and nod and smile. The one thing that's very special about Birmingham and the wider West Midlands is, you know, we sometimes get bad press, but we're good at looking after our own. And when somebody asks and has a compelling ask, the whole city and region have got behind us. And this money has come, yeah, big donation, but the other two and a half million has come from the likes of

you know, your own business Curiam, you know, they bought a table at the ball. It's come in so many different ways, but it's come from communities, charities themselves, people's pocket money. This is a really special one. And you know, why I wanted to be involved is a UK first. So it's not thanking me, it's thanking everybody who's backed us, believed in us. I mean, we've cashed in all our community credentials on this one.

Andy (05:31)

Okay, so Doug, I'd like to take us back to when you were 16 years old, starting out. What was your view of the world then? What was your expectations of what Doug Wright was going to achieve in his career?

Doug Wright MBE (05:48)

At years old, I was in lot of trouble with my mom and my dad because the only thing I had was, I was adopted as a little, when I was a week old, the only thing I had at 16 was a pretty decent cricket average. You know, so my cricket bag or the coffin was full of love and a full of a decent cricket average. But unfortunately, my 10-0 levels, I only got one. So at 16, my recovery strategy got worse.

because my mum and dad were so embarrassed and annoyed when Postman Pap brought the O-level results that my mum shut the curtains for three days. yeah, she was furious. And so my recovery strategy was worse that I got a job at McDonald's as an operative and then had the audacity to tell her that I wasn't going to go back for the resits. So yeah, 93 pence an hour as the toilet cleaner.

did not get me a standing ovation as the recovery strategy. But you know what? From the moment I walked into McDonald's, I loved it. It looked like, if you're old enough to remember, it looked like the Fonz's diner. Burgers, milkshakes. And you know what the coolest thing about it was? There were no knives and forks. So you could eat with your hands and everything. But absolutely loved it when I walked in there. Got a job, super proud and really never ever looked back.

Andy (07:11)

I'm very pleased to say that both of my boys have met you over the years, one when you came to do a talk at school and the other one with Michael Vaughan fairly recently. My eldest isn't into his academics and school, my youngest is a little bit better. But what was it for you there? Was it just academia didn't interest you? Did you not apply yourself? It wasn't what you wanted to do? Just what went on? What went on at that time?

Doug Wright MBE (07:40)

I just had too many distractions that, know, football, cricket, everything. And I genuinely believe that I would be able to leverage my, I mean, education is key, right? And it is so important to get a great education. But for me, I thought that I would be able to sort of use the synergy between education and sports and go on to do something. Oh, you know, think the reality of the headline was I was a big dreamer.

but you know I hadn't got much in my locker if you'd burger my locker at lunch time there wasn't a lot of academia in there it didn't interest me but you know what people absolutely fascinated me

PJ Ellis (08:19)

so what were those first impressions then you say you landed in McDonald's, it just blew you away, I remember the first time I went to McDonald's and the last impression with me was seeing that, the burglar, do you remember him, the hamburglar? I absolutely loved him as a character,

Andy (08:33)

yeah, yeah, that's it. I think we're about to see something.

Doug Wright MBE (08:35)

So listen, presenting, I'm Bergla.

PJ Ellis (08:38)

⁓ you're joking. ⁓ that's the man.

Andy (08:40)

There he is. ⁓

Doug Wright MBE (08:42)

My

two heroes, my two heroes were Hamburglar as a boy.

PJ Ellis (08:47)

Yeah.

Doug Wright MBE (08:48)

they've been with me every step of the way Hamburglar and Reynolds.

PJ Ellis (08:48)

here he is.

and Ronald.

Yeah, I mean, they're just two defining characters. I remember the trains. I remember the conversation I had with my dad and I must have been 10 years old. I remember exactly where it was. I remember what we ordered. I remember the toys that we had. So that impact, I suspect, has happened numerous times to people that go to McDonald's. But in relation to your journey, you mentioned people.

What did that teach you about work and people that experience at McDonald's and how quickly did that happen?

Doug Wright MBE (09:21)

Well listen, I was pretty much unemployable. I got no life skills, my bedroom was, everything in my life was somebody else's fault. I couldn't get up on time, I couldn't get the bus on time. This was a moment in my life where I didn't get that job on my track record. Someone believed in me and that's been my mantra ever since. The fact I went in there and I realized that A, I hated cleaning toilets.

be that 93 pence an hour wasn't a huge sum of money but I loved it and you know I love you know for all the 44 years I worked I loved it and I loved it because you couldn't fail because you were part of a team so that's what the difference the penny dropped that straight away I felt valued and special because I was part of a team I really really developed really quickly by 18 I was a shift leader which was you know when you look at my track record was

Astounding. At 18, I felt like I'd gone from zero to hero. I had the keys, I was running shifts at McDonald's and I was in charge. think I was in charge one Saturday of six people, which like, know, was, McDonald's wasn't busy then and we didn't serve breakfast. Can you believe that? But, so yeah, someone believed in me and like, you know, someone was kind to me and someone gave me purpose and value and it made me realize that

PJ Ellis (10:34)

Yeah, yeah.

Doug Wright MBE (10:43)

life skills and getting that experience. You know, I've employed 66,000 people in my 44 years with the Golden Arches. And you know, when I left, the proudest moment was the amount of people who said, it was a good bloke, or he cared for us, or he gave me my first job or whatever. And like, you know, money, whatever. But when you leave and people are very, very kind, it's incredibly special.

Andy (11:12)

What's, Doug, just go back quickly, one quick question for me. If Postman Pat had delivered 10 O levels for you, a nice mix of A's and B's, what was the expectation about what you would go on to do if that was the case, if anything?

Doug Wright MBE (11:29)

Yeah, my mum on the back of my tracksuit every day, it said future solicitor. I was meant to be super bright. I had a forensic brain. You know, so my mum was sad. You know, was sadder than the last chapter of Lassie when post-Muppet arrived at 1-0 level. Personally, I am thrilled that I got a 1-0 level because, you know, I've had the most wonderful life.

you know, and because of that I had to go and, you know, purpose myself and define myself and yeah, I've loved, for 44 years, I loved being under the arches.

Andy (12:10)

And then I guess the next event, I know you continue to flourish and then at the age of 21, 20, then the next kind of stumbling block I guess came in the form of an accident. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

Doug Wright MBE (12:17)

20.

Yep, at 20 years old I was looking good. I became McDonald's youngest ever restaurant manager, was in Oxford, really enjoying myself and had a routine night out with the lads. We always took it in turn for someone to drink soft drinks. We went out and had a night out and had a bump and ended up in hospital. And it was, if you were going to categorize bumps, this was an A-lister. It was a bad one and ended up...

in hospital and I was sort of for a few months was paralysed from the neck downwards. So yeah, was pretty cool. It was a pretty uncomfortable moment. And, but again, even when the doctor told my parents that I wouldn't walk again, I was already dreaming about what I was going to do down the road and everything else. I've always had a really positive outlook, but that one was a difficult one to bounce back from. But it was definitely Andy, my light bulb moment, you know that.

I kind of realized that if I could get through this, that I'd make sure I used whatever I did as a force for good to help others.

PJ Ellis (13:32)

Yeah, what a light bulb moment that is for a number of reasons. mean, mentally though, Doug, I suspect you are strong mentally, playing sports as a young kid, good batting average, all that. How did that feel? How did you mentally cope? Can you remember any sort of coping mechanisms that helped you through that part of your journey?

Doug Wright MBE (13:52)

Yeah, kind of, it was horrendous. You know, I think the probably the best thing about it was that, you know, in 1986, there wasn't an internet and you didn't sort of play on your phone or whatever. And it was just trying to, I used it as a period of reflection to look at what, where my life had been and where I wanted it to go. But I think the saddest thing was, you know, seeing my mom lying on the hospital floor.

That wasn't my proudest moment, you know, but you can't swap places because you're paralyzed. The doctor said I might not walk again. And I think it was at that time that an extraordinary amount of charities and people helped my mom, you know, where to stay, know, food, lifts, support, everything. I, know, regularly even now, always start charity talks with the whole thing about, you know, none of us ever know when we'll need the help.

charity so you know was desperate desperate desperate desperate but you kind of almost need to put on a sort of smiley face and a brave face for your mom and dad

You know, because my mum couldn't have kids, so hard as it is to believe, looking at me today, I was the golden child, you know? And I mean, that is pretty horrendous to think about, but you know, she was beaten by the whole thing.

Andy (15:08)

And how did that recovery journey go? Obviously, you you took your time in hospital, then you'd come out, then you'd get your mobility going again, and I think you relocated as well. How was that kind of episode?

Doug Wright MBE (15:20)

It was odd really, know, the constant and it was McDonald's Corporation, they created a job for me, which probably didn't exist and took me to one of the fondest places I have in the world, Sutton-Colefield. So, know, took me to Sutton-Colefield, I worked in the regional office there. I mean, it took me about two years, I've still not got very good mobility on my hands, you know, I've still, not many people know, but I've got no feeling in the left-hand side of my body.

which makes my balance a bit awkward. But yeah, just sort of recovered work to McDonald's and over the next, what would it have been? 15 years progressed within the McDonald's corporation. But you know what? I always had this burning ambition and burning desire to become a business owner. I mean, again, I was crackers because, know, when I applied to become a McDonald's franchisee, I had 612 pounds.

which is hardly the starting place for a real entrepreneur, is it? No. So my finances weren't aligned with my vision and my dream.

PJ Ellis (16:29)

Who was that person then Doug that that backed you then you've said you've been backed by McDonald's as a business But was there an individual back then that spotted something? No

Doug Wright MBE (16:39)

No, just,

one bank in the world agreed to lend me the money. was the Allied Irish bank in Solihull. And they told me it was a compelling rate. I think it was a base rate plus 10 in today's market. It probably wasn't a good deal. But for me, all I had to do was I had to get the cab off the rank. I had to borrow the money and had to, honestly, I had to become a McDonald's business owner. Why? Because probably nobody else would have given me a business.

PJ Ellis (16:47)

Yeah.

Doug Wright MBE (17:09)

but I genuinely thought that I could be good at it and it was probably the first thing in my life that I found out apart from cricket that I was good at, that I was good at McDonald's kind of thing. yeah, we borrowed the money and up and running we were in Lichfield City Centre in 2002.

Andy (17:30)

Is that the restaurant that's still there today? Same location?

Doug Wright MBE (17:33)

Yeah, Conduich Street, Litchfield. was my absolute baby. I've never worked so hard because you have this vision about, you know, you being monstrously rich and it's really easy and everything else. And overnight I signed up, became the proudest man. And I was as a franchisee or an owner operator. And the first Friday I answered the phone and it was the night shift manageress was unwell. So she couldn't come in. So I kind of looked and thought, I wonder what plan B is. And I realized I was plan B.

Plan C, Plan D. So first year in Lichfield 2002, never worked so hard, was monstrously proud. And we made, you know, we took a million and two pounds. I have no relevance about the two pounds that we took, but we took a million and two. And you know what? I thought I was the greatest, but we lost six grand in the first year. And so that was my moment when somebody had...

sort of almost burst my bubble and my balloon when I went to see the accountant and I was telling him how well I was doing. He said, you might be doing very well, but you need to work harder on the financials and the controllables. But yeah, loved it and you know, loved it from the very start.

Andy (18:44)

And just just remind us Doug, what age were you at this point? Yeah.

Doug Wright MBE (18:47)

How old would I have been?

I would have been about 36.

PJ Ellis (18:51)

And from that, 26 restaurants hired over 66,000 people, learning daily about business, people, charity, friendship, family. Through that, what were your non-negotiables, Doug? I've always thought of you as a guy with the right value framework, good culture, very high standards. Were there any non-negotiables through that journey?

Doug Wright MBE (19:17)

Yeah, listen, there were loads of non-negotiables. The first thing was that, you know, that I wanted to throw away the corporate rule book and I wanted it to run in the background. And I wanted it to be very different. The word culture didn't exist at the time, but I wanted it all to be about people, that people weren't data, they were real, people were real names. And I did something really odd and you'll probably think it's really minor now, but...

I kind of realized that I was going to start every conversation with why wouldn't we? So when in a corporation you got to be available 24 seven, you got to have a driving license, you got to have et cetera, et cetera. I wanted to be the one that if a woman or a man came to me and said, I can only work three days because of whatever, would, every conversation would frame it. Why wouldn't we? And you know, people repaid us in droves, very simple, but making people all about.

the important things that make the decisions. Because at end of the day, you know, it was a business. And what we had to do is people had to pay their mortgages and we had to provide for people, but we hadn't got a divine right that they had to be available 24-7, et cetera. So we broke the rules and we made it about people, not why would we, but why wouldn't we? And it, you know, got the cab off the rank and it was a lot harder than you saying it in one sentence, going from one restaurant to 26 restaurants.

It took us five years to save up to be able to open the second restaurant. that was hard. My mom and dad, bless them, helped me along the way. We didn't earn a lot of money and we just kept all the money in the business. But the non-negotiables were the two Hs, honest and hardworking. The rest I could forgive you for. And I used to do this thing, if you brought me the two Hs, I'd give you my...

Andy (20:44)

Shush.

Doug Wright MBE (21:06)

my two words, which were, make you feel valued and special. And we worked in an industry where staff turnover was really high. And so we kind of worked out that if you run a business, it was like a conveyor belt and you needed to be in control of the speed of the conveyor belt. So there were two Rs in life and I didn't get the hang of them, but these two Rs determined the speed of the conveyor belt and they were retention and recruitment.

And so I thought to start with, gosh, this is hard work. Because as people left, we had to run faster and faster. And when we got to a thousand staff, I wasn't the sharpest tool in the box. But if staff turnover was 60 % in hospitality, that meant you had to hire on board 600 people a year. And if you chose one for every five people you interviewed, that was 3000. So I had to stop the bus, put the handbrake on.

and I had to redetermine and redeploy all our money into the R that mattered, and that was retention. And so before I was constantly going faster, faster, faster, but I couldn't catch it. But when I stopped and redeployed all the money and gave people more training and retained people, it was a lot easier, but it takes you a few years. And then within five years, the honest and the hardworking people were doing brilliantly for me.

productivity was up, we got a development plan for people. And I tell you what, the other thing we did was when we gave people a job, we did not micromanage them. We chose people and said, right, that's your restaurant, you run it. And the piece that was non-negotiable was we had to be the very best. And we would pay the right salary and bonuses and everything else. But the other thing we did early on was we cared.

assiduously about the communities that we traded restaurants in. And that was a big statement to make because, you know, when you're trying to earn your place at the table in the business community, McDonald's was a very tough place to run. You know, didn't have, there was the stigma of McJob and so on. So it was tough early days, but we cared about the community and that care meant

different things in different ways. yeah, we got the hang of it and we got it going. And once we got it going, we realized that we needed to do something to, or we, I needed to do something to repay probably the 200 lots of charities and people that helped me when I had the accident and they were there for my mom and my dad.

PJ Ellis (23:43)

Thank

PJ Ellis (23:45)

So I'm just jumping in. If you're enjoying these conversations, well, we are bringing those to life at Witton Grid live at Millennium Point in Birmingham on the 30th of January, 2026. 300 people, real talk, life lessons, even a moment to breathe, proper takeaways you can use straight away. Get your tickets at wittongrid.co.uk forward slash register. It's going to be a good one, Bab. Right, let's get back to the conversation.

Andy (24:16)

Just a quick question for me, Doug. I'm about the franchisee model. I think, was it 24, 25, 26 restaurants you had at the end? Was it 26? Yeah. How did the, so how many restaurants, yeah, thousands of restaurants in the UK, I guess. How were you viewed as a franchisee? Did other people come and look at what you did? Did you go and look at other operations to kind of learn and share insights?

Doug Wright MBE (24:26)

Yeah, 26.

Yeah, I mean, I don't know how, but I ended up being the poster child. And you know, in 2016, I probably got my best ever letter where I was awarded an honor, which was the global franchisee of the year. And it, you know, it was such a surprise. I didn't tell anybody because I expected one of my mates to say, did you get my letter? And when we got it, the reason I got it, we on a bad day, I on a good day.

we got it because of what we've done in the community and all our philanthropic work. So yeah, we were, I think we got the hang of franchising early days. And the idea was that, know, that franchisees always wanted their franchisees to be, you know, be able to really push them hard to be innovators, best in class and to help them create solutions. So whilst people sometimes

you know, didn't want to do stuff. We were always at the front of the queue and we always thought that if we're a franchisee, we need to road test everything and be part of the solution. So yeah, we were well loved, but you know, early days we, when we started out, we used to go and look at what other people used to do and try and find a hybrid of the best things that were out there. But for me, I just worked out very quickly that, you know,

We had to run good businesses and great restaurants, but we had to be the best in the community. And it was super proud, know, when we became Mr. McDonald's of the West Midlands. You know, that is worth more than anything else.

Andy (26:21)

Yeah. Did you ever go back to the bank manager at the Allied Bank and kind of tell him what had happened? Did you stay in touch?

Doug Wright MBE (26:29)

What happened was, it's a great story this, so basically they wouldn't lend me the money for the second restaurant, so I had to jump ship and I went, I joined RBS and there was this guy who sat on a couple of boards with me since, commercial manager, a guy called Jaz Sandu, and he's basically made me look good for many, many years. And you know, when you look at franchising, it's a lonely old world being the boss man.

Andy (26:45)

Hello, Justin.

Doug Wright MBE (26:55)

but there are two very special people who helped me. A lady called Nicola Reeve from Tolbert's who's been my solicitor and has kept me compliant throughout. And Jazz has always had the money there for me when we needed to reinvest, buy more businesses, buy more restaurants. So, you know, this is a lonely old life, but two people have made me look good.

PJ Ellis (27:16)

So it comes back to what you say around that ability to create those solutions and I know You've mentored over I know 300 business owners. You're currently supporting 16 I don't know how you find the time mate being mr. McDonald's and having global franchisee of the year and the NBA when you see people That might remind you of you growing up. What do you think separates people that you then see actually grow?

from the people who stay stuck. What separates those two people, Doug, would you say?

Doug Wright MBE (27:50)

Listen, know, life is not formulaic. What you see is that, you when people come along with an idea, you've got to encourage them and tell them how to do it. And then you've got to make them confident. And it's just, all you are as a mentor is a sounding board. And you're able, you never want to tell people not to do it, but you try and articulate it in a way that you might be better on a different lane of the journey. But you try and give them ownership of it.

and you never want to burst their bubble. know, there's only things that I would sort of really sort of say no, no, no, if it was going to lose them money or it's going to cause them problems or it's going to be brand damaging within their world. But the best thing about it is that people thank you for mentoring them. But really, the more people you talk to, you just take their ideas and like you bring them into your own world. most people that I've mentored are much better than me.

But you know, they'll always give you something and you know, I always think you want to be in a room where people are on the up. And so yeah, I've learned so much from mentees, you know, being a mentor and I love it still. you know, there's a lot of people out there that I'm proud to have played a very small part in their development.

PJ Ellis (29:06)

No doubt I know a few of those that you would have helped so much. We set the pod up because we got two young kids worried about what their future looks like in the workplace. The bias of being a parent, we think they're amazing, digitally native, blah, blah, but they lack that confidence to,

maybe sit in front of the three of us and articulate their ideas, have confidence to sort of back themselves. With all the lessons that you've had over these years, with all the people you've mentored, with all the ups, downs, lefts rights that you've had, what is that main thing that you'd be saying to people with those ideas? How would you encourage them to just be a big dreamer like yourself?

Doug Wright MBE (29:48)

Be yourself. You know, there isn't a route or there isn't a formula in life. But you know, young people get bad press. But there's so many great young people out there now. And what you've got to do is you've got to be almost the conduit to making them successful. You know, I meet so many extraordinary young people. One of the things I've always done with young people is every board that I chair, I have young people that I go and road test everything with.

and talk to them about what are their views on it, etc. So go back to the question about young people, giving them the confidence to shine. And that shining doesn't about making copious amounts of money, it's about being themselves on what they want to do. And I was fortunate enough to meet one of Andy's kids at the cathedral when I was there and doing a talk or something. And what really struck me was how smart he was.

And like, know, it's just, none of us can be the same, but it's just having the ability to, I mean, he was so smart, he didn't even tell me he was Andy Dawson's son. You know, dad sent me a message later on, but all I thought was, guys, a smart boy. Just with young people, they're just a little bit more delicate and they're a little bit more fragile because social media's taken away all this kind of stuff. And I try and...

always with my kids, try and look at them in the eyes and say, you know, try and be friends with everybody, be kind, but most important, take time to talk to people. And like, you know, when people come and see me, the first thing I say is get your phone and leave it in the reception area. And we have a really good chat and I managed to coax them into what they want to talk about. And, know, under the bonnet, might be harder to open the bonnet, but when you open the bonnet of young people,

They really care about the environment, they care about life planning, they care about everything, but they just need nurturing. So I think the benefit with young people is never treat two as the same and just let them open up to you.

PJ Ellis (31:59)

Bang on.

Andy (32:00)

If we just move on a little bit now Doug to the kind of obviously kids village we touched on at the start and the money you raised to refurbish Ronald McDonald House, how are the challenges of charitable work funding projects like that compared to the business world that you're in? they very different? How did you tackle those?

Doug Wright MBE (32:22)

Listen, the first thing you've got to do is that, you know, when I became the chairman of Ronald McDonald House, you've just got to make friends with everybody. And you've got to keep your hands in your pockets. You must never ask for money. And like, that sounds crackers, right? When you're chairing a charity. But when we launched Kids Village, we said to the founders, for nine months, like the founders were ready with their touch pads and their contactless pads and their buckets and everything else. What you've got to do is you need to...

You need to make people fall in love with your charity. And that means very simply, you've got to articulate the why. And so you've got to go out and you've got to talk about the charity, the why, and keep knocking away at the why. And then eventually transition from just advocacy and blend that into capital fundraising. you've got to have, you got to hold your nerve and you've got to have a compelling story. So with Ronald McDonald House.

What did we do? We didn't really know enough people, so we joined the Chamber of Commerce and immediately loved it. And you know, there's three words that are everywhere in the Chamber of Commerce and they are, and it's very timely speaking to you as Mr. President, but they are, and you need to get this on your head. Connect, support and grow. And by God, it works. So we joined the Chamber of Commerce, we started meeting all these people.

The year before we joined the Chamber of Commerce, we had a dinner for Ronald McDonald House, right? And we raised 41,000 pounds. Joined the Chamber of Commerce, and all we did was extend our network of people. And we went out and talked about Ronald McDonald House, home away from home. And then we found reasons to bring everybody to Ronald McDonald House. The last year, and we just went upwards, up, The last year.

when I was the chair of Ronald McDonald House, we raised, we're only for this, a third of a million profits on the night, yeah? And like, know, Andy, you've always been like, monstrously kind. I remember emailing you during the pandemic saying, would you buy a ticket for a virtual event for 15 pounds? Most people didn't reply. Andy Dawson replies and says, I'll have a ticket for everybody, because we're going to hold a social tonight. And as part of it, we're going to buy everyone something to eat.

and they're going to join the Ronald McDonald virtual broadcast. And it's people like you, know, that we've been very fortunate, or I've been very fortunate to meet people who support you. And you must never forget those people. like, yeah, I mean, it's special now seeing you taking over the presidency of the Chamber of Commerce, because when people say, you know, do you know much about him? And we've grown together.

And we win together, we lose together, we don't get everything right together, but we support everything. for me, joining the Chamber of Commerce was just meeting so many people. There isn't such a bad thing, there isn't a bad charity. as know, Birmingham City Council's failed and all the other things. Our community has been brilliant because so many people have created solutions within our community and started up CICs, Food Bank.

And so I've just tried to say to everybody as hard as it is before you ask for anything Articulate the why what you know? Why is the charity there and the most important thing if you think about it like a book? The first chapter is the why the last chapter is or impact can you make and you know? You bet you've got to be able to quantify that

The other thing I try and use cleverly is I try and always get people to be third-party advocates. So self-advocacy isn't very powerful. You're a dinner, like a held a dinner at the Belfry, and we've got an 11-year-old girl to be the keynote speaker and make the whole evening about children, whether it's entertainment. You don't want to hear from a 60-year-old man with gray hair about how brilliant his charity is or whatever.

When you have a dinner, you want somebody up on the stage who has stayed at the Ronald McDonald House and that home away from home has been a lifesaver. So third party advocacy all day long. So don't get your buckets out, tell the why and then make sure that at regular events, at timely points, you tell people what their money has converted into in impact. And the most important thing is just

All the time thank people. Thank people, good luck.

Andy (37:00)

Fantastic, some great lessons, wisdom in that Doug and thank you for your kind words. Question, a slight change of subject. So I know you love your cricket, I you love your football. How has sport and your love of sport helped you over the years?

Doug Wright MBE (37:14)

Gosh, yeah, I mean, it's one thing that the kids always come to. We always go to the football together. And so sports been really important to me. And I've also been really lucky because I've done charity work. know, I've met some amazing sports people. Like, you know, I've done loads of work with people like Darren Goff, who's a cricketer. I've done loads of work with Premier League footballers. I think for me, I'll try and tell you why sports important.

Sport is like the international language of bringing people together. So we could go to Stratford Park or to Cannon Hill Park, right? And we could be from all over the world, from Sri Lanka, might not be able to speak English, but what we can do is it can harmonize us, it can bring us together. And if you look at how sport was started, both cricket and football clubs were started to sort of create the solutions of unresting communities.

So sport is like an international language. I remember being on holiday somewhere and the kids were playing football with kids from all over the world. None of them could all speak the language. I said it was one of those moments if you could have recorded it and said the power of sport. And I think it is very, very powerful. And I think that how it all started and it is really relevant today, isn't it? Because it's an angry world we live in.

And sometimes, you know, we've got to find, I always think that sport and food are the international language where we can harmonize and bring people together. So sports has been a massive part of my life. You know, I never was very good or good enough to do it professionally, but loved it. And I love, it's everything about a sports day out, whether it's a picnic, it's seeing your friends, having a beer, having a cup of tea. It brings all my kids together. And you know, whether we support the right team or not.

But when you look at sport, if you want a really good example about how sport can influence people, look at Birmingham City Football Club. Everything is community and everything is related back to community and being the football club for the community and that they're scaling a club in a very, very impressive way. Yeah, so sport for me, the power of bringing people together.

and you don't need to be able to speak to each other. We all know what our goal is and how to pass the ball.

PJ Ellis (39:38)

that mate, sport and food, i mean i'm probably relying on too much of the latter of late but yeah it certainly brings people together doesn't it, are you a secret bluenose now then mate?

Doug Wright MBE (39:49)

I'm a secretive fan of anybody who can come into a city and be making the impact. And what I love about things, and I've got a very strong moral compass, is doing things in the right way. So I admire and look over the fence at what they're doing. And when you look at how many jobs the sports quarter will provide, during the construction process, 15,000, post 14,000, it's a big...

ask what they're doing and so yeah I do admire and I must admit that you know I've had a cup of tea and I've been to a game with Jeremy Dale who's the CEO there and I think they what they're doing there is wonderful.

PJ Ellis (40:31)

100%. And he's backing it. You the stuff that you said at the start about the kids charity, that the kids village is happening. You can see that development, the consistency in that growth around. Jeremy was saying the other day how last year they supported X thousand in the community foundation. This year it's tripled, you know. So that growth in the community piece as well is so important. What's your mornings look like now then Doug? You wake up. Do still think you work for Matt Donalds?

Doug Wright MBE (40:56)

I still wake up early. You know, in terms of the McDonald's piece, people ask me all the time, like the day I announced that I was retiring, it was 15 months in the making, right? And people said, what on earth have you done? And my dad was a very quiet fellow, but he always said, make sure you orchestrate your own exit. Don't outstay your welcome. And so for me, you know, I felt pretty sad for the first couple of weeks.

but I've kind of used it in a good way. ⁓ I'm 60. I've done well out of having a business. I'm proud of the impact we've made. So yeah, I still wake up. I think the biggest thing I wake up, and I don't have to look at my phone, because I had 19 restaurants that traded all night. So I've always been a workaholic, go to bed late, wake up early, but I've never slept so well for the last 12 weeks. I've slept really well.

I've doing, I've done things that I've dreamt of. I've got a puppy, you know, little puppy that I love and I'm doing a lot more charity work. It's pretty bizarre really. yeah, I have realized that I'm not McDougie anymore and that, you know, the only thing I've got left is Hamburger and Ronald McDonald are still with me, but everyone else has left the building. But yeah, it's funny that, you know, when I...

started my life I couldn't get a job and you know I've retired at 60 and I've had probably 30 huge job offers since I retired and you know that lots of different things that I don't want to do and people are saying what's the next thing for Doug Wright? The next thing for Doug Wright is to have a pause to finish close his business get it liquidated you know sort kids village out

heading up a big project for the government about regenerating some coal fields. We've tried to use the business approach for that. So I'm going to work out what I want to do. I've got, it certainly won't be about working for somebody. You know, I loved my time as the high sheriff of the West Midlands. You know, I was able to use a one year role to harmonize people and to shine a light on smaller communities. And my sort of

Most important thing is I wanted to treat everybody on the same level playing field. So yeah, I wasn't sure if I'd love it. I didn't even know what the high sheriff role was. And when I Googled it, I just presumed that costume would have been antiquated and gone out of time. So when I got dressed up in it, I, you know, I'm bit unsure, but you know, by the end, I loved it. And I love the whole thing. It was really hard work.

Andy (43:28)

I

Doug Wright MBE (43:35)

It was, 165 engagements across seven boroughs of the West Midlands, but just loved it. And I suppose the thing I've always loved is people. And I've got an ability to make people, regardless of who they are or what they are, that we talk to everyone in the same light and to always have time for people, you know? And whether it's school kids, you know, just always make an effort to go around the room and talk to everybody.

Andy (44:00)

Just conscious of your time Doug, last thing for me. Firstly I'd like to thank you for sharing your story and kind of everything you do around the community. Thank you for your friendship personally as well. Last thing for me, if you were to be staring in the face of 16 year old Doug who just finished his first shift, what would you say to him now?

Doug Wright MBE (44:24)

I would say to him, well done fella, you know, keep going and be yourself and be proud of what you're doing. That pride sometimes people, social media articulates about how the world is perfect. Just be happy with what you're doing and to make sure that look after your own mental health and to have some time away from social media every day and to do something that's important, whether it's take your dog for a walk, go for a walk.

Whatever you love, do it. as a 16 year old boy, the biggest thing I'd say is don't do it alone. You've got a workforce of friends, colleagues, just always stay in touch with people, look after people. the solution's always in the room, There's always somebody in your...

canteen or somebody in your workforce will be going through a similar thing and you know that's for me don't have too many expectations on Young Dug Right 16. I think if you looked in from above on the first shift you could probably have said oh my god Young Dug Right is cleaning the toilets the worst anyone's ever done but they invited me back for a second day and I felt better and better. I I realized that it wasn't a great job.

and I had to try and move on quickly. But you know, for some, for somebody who couldn't tidy their room, just, I got believed in, you know, so believe in young people. That will be my message, please.

PJ Ellis (45:53)

That's really moving actually well done fella you start with and I remember you started this conversation saying that your mom Drew the curtains upon receiving your O levels. I'm sure she opened those curtains Widely as for the last few years and would have been so proud of you mate for what you've done because honestly you've done so so much I mean we could talk about the NBA that's probably another episode. I always say I always write down some takeaways mate and literally

I mean, I can't keep up with the ones that you've said. We'll put them out across the episode. But a few for me. Be a third party advocate. Be kind. Play it forward. Articulate the why. Start a conversation with why wouldn't we. Sport and food, you have to get that in. It's an international language, of course. Orchestrate your own exit. Support and grow the power of purpose and people. could go on forever.

But the two things that I am gonna take away with this are those H's that you said that you lived and died by. If you're hardworking and honest, I can let you off with the rest. And that will stick with me, mate. So thank you so, so much. Doug Rye, MBE, what a legend.

Doug Wright MBE (47:01)

It's pleasure. Listen, I'm certainly not alleging, but you know, when we all join together across the region, we can be impactful. So thank you for everything. Thank you, Andy. And thank you, PJ.