L to R: Carole Manship, Director of Bridge Marketing Partnership, Barry Cleverdon, Sir Adrian Cadbury (Chancellor) and Prof Mike Wright (Vice - Chancellor).

The Pride and The Passion

This year's MacLaren Lecture 'The NEC - The Pride and the Passion', was presented on 10th October by Barry Cleverdon OBE, Chief Executive of the NEC Group. The NEC Group is the UK' s market leader in exhibitions, conferences, entertainment and sport, and is recognised throughout Europe for its excellence. This lecture was no exception, writes Frances Haughey.

Many an outstanding speaker has delivered the MacLaren Lecture at Aston throughout its fifty-year history, and Barry Cleverdon certainly rose to the occasion.His lecture detailed both his and the NEC's development and growth into the success it is today, and he spoke with enthusiasm and honesty when describing his career with the Group as: "the pride and the passion. The pride I feel for what we have achieved, and the passion for what we can accomplish in the future."

His lecture was both powerful and dynamic, its presentation spectacular, with a custom built stage and video and light display created by the NEC, which actually allowed you to experience and appreciate the quality and power of the Group.
Barry opened his lecture with a tribute: "Why commemorate this man James MacLaren for over 50 years?" His answer was simple: "Because he was a man with vision and passion." It was these qualities among others that distinguished James MacLaren, and for what he is remembered today. He devoted his life to serving his nation within the engineering industry, through management, and in technical education. Aston University owes much of its history to him, as he was a founder of the College of Technology.
Barry Cleverdon also talked about the founding of the NEC Group, and the challenges and expectations of failure it faced from day one. The greatest of these was the fact that it was located in the Midlands, outside of London, and it was felt that it couldn't possibly attract the national and international clientele required to succeed. However it did, and today the Group stages around 200 exhibitions and 1,000 events every year.
However, the NEC Group is not only successful on a national and international level, it contributes a lot to the Midlands as well by generating money on a vast scale for the local economy, attracting visitors, and supporting and creating jobs. It also contributes to charities and provides a platform and opportunities to all business as a route to market. However Barry did not attempt to portray the NEC Group as infallible and flawless, he admitted: "There will be mistakes and there will be issues but it is all about having the right people."
He also spoke of the future and the need and necessity of change. "Change needs courage. You can control the future by acting first, you can change it if you see it coming."
In concluding he described the NEC Group as something inspiring, saying: "If you have pride and passion in what you do, you have the edge, you have something special." It is qualities like these that he believes institutions such as Aston can help to nurture and develop within people. James MacLaren possessed them and look what he achieved.
In all it was an impressive lecture, not only for its presentation and content but for the sheer honesty and enthusiasm with which Barry spoke about his passion.

The MacLaren lecture was sponsored by Barkers, Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Halfords, and Lloyds TSB Business. The lecture was organised by CIPD, Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Aston Business School..

Aston Aspects, November 2001 - Mon Aug 19 08:28:11 2002