The Cardiff Business Awards 2024 celebrated the outstanding achievements of businesses and individuals who are shaping the future of Cardiff’s economy.
In this series of interviews we spotlight the winners, sharing their stories and celebrating their contributions.
Among this year’s winners is Darogan Talent, which was honoured with the Start-Up Business of the Year Award. We spoke with the company’s representative, Dr Owain James, to learn more.
1.How does your business contribute to Cardiff’s community, and what impact do you hope to have on the local economy or society?
We love being a part of the city and, on a personal level, it feels special to run a company in the city where I was born and raised. We*re part of NatWest*s Accelerator Programme, which means that we regularly meet in their hub in the city centre and engage in that community. We are already working closely with Cardiff-based graduate employers and other organisations connected with the city, which includes working closely with the Cardiff Capital Region’s Venture Graduate Programme.
2. Are there any emerging trends or innovations in your field that you believe will transform business in Cardiff?
Cardiff is a rapidly growing city, and we are finding that a lot of young people are really interested in working in Cardiff. We think that our work connecting with diaspora degree-educated talent could give businesses in Cardiff a huge boost by connecting them with a new talent pool.
3. What keeps you motivated during tough times? Are there any lessons you’d share about resilience and adaptability?
I think looking back and observing how far you’ve come is always a good habit to get into. A year ago I was working by myself, chasing employers to join our platform, meeting with groups of candidates armed with nothing but a PowerPoint presentation and a box of chocolates.
A year later we have recently appointed a fourth member of staff, employers are resubscribing, and over 1000 people have attended our events (which usually have proper catering by now!). So even when things look tough, taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture will help you to keep going.
4. What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs or professionals in Cardiff who are inspired by your journey?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed, especially if you’re running your first business. There’s a lot to do! But I have found that there are a lot of people who want to support you, and are willing to give their time to help. So my main piece of advice would be to find those people who will stand in your corner, and who will help motivate you and give advice when the going gets tough.
Also, enjoy it! Running Darogan Talent has been one of the best decisions I have ever made, because I get to work on something that I think is really important every day.
