David Chamberlain, co-founder of SaaS-based animation firm , explains why he鈥檚 agreed to be co-opted onto the board of his local college
I recently shocked my friends by getting involved and supporting a local college at the age of 33.听
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 think your son was old enough to go to college,鈥� was one friend鈥檚 response.听
鈥淗e鈥檚 not,鈥� I said, 鈥渉e鈥檚 only two.鈥�听
So why exactly did I accept an offer to become a co-opted member of the board at Runshaw College in Leyland and why do I think other entrepreneurs should do the same?听
By way of background in 2015 I founded video animation firm听Viddyoze听with Jamie Garside and Joey听Xoto听and our technology is now being used in 250,000 monthly clips worldwide.听
I鈥檓 happily married, have a two-year-old son and another on the way and a few other business interests. Because I spend more of my life听working听I fall into the category of being ‘time-poor鈥�.听
Then, out the blue, I was contacted by Warren Middleton, chairman of Runshaw College, inviting me to become a governor.听
I know Warren because he鈥檚 a senior partner at the Manchester office of听KPMG听but I didn鈥檛 know about his involvement with Runshaw College. He explained that the college was looking for new input from a diverse range of backgrounds, as well as听local businesses and tech entrepreneurs,听via LinkedIn and his extended contacts.听
Viddyoze鈥檚听offices are only a few miles away from Runshaw鈥檚 main Leyland campus and I know they are one of the UK鈥檚 most successful colleges.听
I started to do some research and I realised I was very young to be a governor or co-opted member.听
According to the National Association for Governors the average age of governors across England is 55, with only 10 per cent of governors being under the age of 40.听听
We hear a lot about the disconnect between business and the education system and the more I thought about Warren鈥檚 offer the more I wanted to do something about听it听and I felt an obligation to give something back.听听
Bringing an entrepreneurial mindset into the educational system can only be a good thing.听
However听I also think getting involved in Runshaw will help me. As I mentioned听earlier听I have a young son and another on the听way听so I have a vested interest in the education system.听
Running your own听business听is听exciting but it can be a lonely place and taking this role gives me a different perspective and makes me less one dimensional.听
You serve for four years and when I looked at the background of the other governors and the work of the principal Clare Russell, I realised what a talented and diverse group of people it听was听and I felt honoured to be asked to join them. It was confirmed this week and I would encourage other entrepreneurs to follow suit.听