Rainbows is delighted to welcome internationally respected local businessman Paul Barry as an Ambassador.
Based in South Nottinghamshire, Paul is an entrepreneur and philanthropist, with a career spanning several decades in global business, private equity and entrepreneurship.
Father and grandfather, Paul, is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Phenna Group, an international testing, inspection, certification and compliance business which he established in 2019. From a standing start, Paul has helped build Phenna into a global organisation operating across five continents, with annual revenues exceeding €1 billion.
He is now committing time to being a Rainbows Ambassador, a role that will play a vital and leading part in helping our charity build communities of support, not simply through donations, but through a shared commitment to helping families face the unthinkable.
Through his role as an Ambassador, Paul will be investing time to help raise awareness of our work, by engaging supporters and encouraging others to contribute to our cause, a cause that makes such a profound difference to families at some of the most challenging times of their lives.
Without the support of people, businesses and communities across the East Midlands, we would not exist. The generosity of these communities makes it possible for us to be there for every baby, child, young person and family who needs it, now and in the future.
Paul can’t wait to take on this new challenge. “Growing up just outside of Edinburgh, I started my first job as a technician engineer at British Gas, when I was 18,” said Paul. “I was fortunate enough to progress my career and several promotions later, relocated to the Midlands in 1999, to work at Loughborough based BG Technology. At the time, the company was a strong supporter of Rainbows, and this is when I first heard of the charity.
“When I started my company in 2019, I introduced charity funding matched to employee fundraising efforts and Rainbows popped into my head. From an annual commitment of £100,000 matched funding, we were able to make a valued donation. I then subsequently visited the hospice in Loughborough, with my wife, Amanda, and we were so inspired by the work of the team, that we became personal supporters.”
Phenna Group, named after Paul, Amanda and their four children – Harry, Ellie-Mae, Natalie and Nicola – has over 9,000 staff globally. With a responsibility to many different charities across the world, Paul looked for other ways he could still support Rainbows and offered his services as a Rainbows Ambassador. “The rest is history,” he said. “I want to do something where I can add most value. Take on a different role and give something back.
“Rainbows pulls on your heart strings, and you can’t help but be inspired by these families and their personal stories. Rainbows contributes to making their lives a little bit easier and that is just so valuable. My family is the most important thing to me, and I take so much pleasure from my children and grandchildren, who are so cheeky and mischievous. It is impossible to imagine what the Rainbows families go through, so helping in just a small way will be rewarding.”
Throughout his career, Celtic and Leicester City fan Paul prides himself on placing great importance on people, relationships and creating a positive, lasting impact. Whether building businesses, developing leadership teams or supporting the communities in which he operates, he believes strongly in the power of people working together around a shared purpose.
He added: “I bring to the Ambassador role extensive experience in leadership, networking, relationship-building and fundraising, together with a genuine belief that businesses and individuals have an important role to play in supporting their communities and creating opportunities for others. I believe every successful entrepreneur and company should embrace that if possible.”
Remembering a time spending three months pitching to over 60 potential investors in London enduring knockback after knockback when first starting his Phenna vision, Paul said: “My parents instilled a great work ethic in me and that resilience and tenacity meant I worked harder than most and never gave up. Growing up I genuinely had no idea what ‘I wanted to be’, I just knew I wanted to work, earn money and go out like my friends.
“My most exciting challenge was to convince the owners of our first business to sell to Phenna, that provided the platform for the business we have created today. I still pinch myself at the scale of what we’ve achieved and if we acquire a business tomorrow, I am still as excited as when buying the first one.
“And now I am really grateful for the opportunity to work with Rainbows. Everything I do is about building a legacy and creating something for my family that they can be proud of, and that when I am long gone, my grandchildren can say ‘my Papa did that’.”
Jane Burns, Rainbows CEO, added: “A Rainbows Ambassador plays a pivotal role in our new strategy to help us promote our work, extend our reach and inspire new supporters. Their input will help us set the standard for the care families can expect, and deserve, while ensuring Rainbows is fit for purpose now and for generations to come.
“We are honoured to have Paul on board, he is an inspirational supporter, with long established routes across the East Midlands. We’re looking forward to learning from him and working together to make that difference for the children and families who need our care and support.”