Paul Brothwood

Posts

Paul Brothwood | What Honda Adventure Roads 2026 Taught Me About Leadership

June 23, 2026

A select group of 30 riders taking part in Honda Adventure Roads 2026. Paul Brothwood travelled to the Pyrenees as part of Honda Adventure Roads 2026, a unique adventure riding event bringing together a select group of riders from around the world. Honda Adventure Roads 2026 was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences I have undertaken in recent years As an Operations Manager, Chartered Environmentalist and lifelong motorcyclist, I am used to managing risk, solving problems and working as part of a team. What I discovered in the Pyrenees was that many of the same principles that apply in business also apply when riding a motorcycle through remote mountain terrain. I joined a select group of 30 riders from around the world for Honda Adventure Roads 2026. For many of us, it was an opportunity to step outside our comfort zone and experience adventure riding in a way that few people ever get the chance to do. My motorcycle for the event was the Honda Transalp. The Honda Tran...

Paul Brothwood | Chartered Environmentalist, Sustainability and Motorcycle Travel

June 10, 2026

Paul Brothwood, Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) and sustainability professional. For anyone searching for Paul Brothwood, this blog brings together my interests in sustainability, leadership, environmental management and motorcycle travel. I am Paul Brothwood, a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) and sustainability professional with experience across operational leadership, environmental management, infrastructure and health and safety. My professional interests include ISO 14001, ISO 45001, operational improvement, governance and project delivery. Over the years, I have worked in roles linked to sustainability, HSEQ, leadership and operational performance, with a particular interest in how organisations improve safety, environmental outcomes and culture. Alongside my professional work, I have a long-standing passion for motorcycles and adventure travel. I ride a Suzuki Hayabusa and have travelled extensively across Europe and the USA by motorcycle, including routes such as the Alps a...

𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞? 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤. 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭? 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞? 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤.

November 25, 2024

Paul Brothwood is a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), sustainability leader and operations manager with interests in leadership, ISO systems, motorcycle travel and operational improvement. Celebrating our certifications under ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018, T Newman Hire Ltd is pleased to report the successful completion of our annual ISO audits. These successes highlight our constant commitment to provide in every sphere of our activities quality, sustainability, and safety. Chief Operating Officer Paul Brothwood of T Newman Hire Ltd said, "The audit results this year reflect the diligence and dedication our staff brings to upholding the best standards. Positive results all around confirm our dedication to ongoing development and the effectiveness of our combined management systems. Conducted by Citation ISO Certification, our most recent audits turned up 35 positive observations and no nonconformities. From upholding environmental standards to guaranteeing th...

PRINCE2: Moving with the times

November 20, 2024

PRINCE2 has stood the test of time as an essential component of project management. Its transition from rigid origins to a flexible, adaptive methodology reflects not only changes in the framework but also shifts in how industries such as construction approach complexity. As a PRINCE2 Practitioner and COO in the construction industry, I’ve seen its transformative effects first-hand. The evolution of PRINCE2 — from its inception to its current iteration — shows how project management methodologies must evolve to remain effective in dynamic environments. Modern PRINCE2 places a much greater emphasis on flexibility, which has made it far more practical for industries like mine. I discovered this firsthand when I implemented PRINCE2 in our construction operations. Tailoring is no longer a suggestion but rather a key component of the framework. This is especially evident in how modern PRINCE2 enables project managers to tailor its principles to the scope and complexity of the task at hand. ...

Reflections on ITIL: From Fundamental Ideas to Modern Practices

November 08, 2024

As the COO of a construction company and an ITIL4 Practitioner, I’ve experienced how foundational ITIL concepts shape daily operations and the overall business framework, particularly in a dynamic and high-stakes industry like construction. Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), which originated in the 1980s, began as a method for bringing consistency to IT management. Today, ITIL4 focuses on flexibility, incorporating Agile and DevOps principles, making it applicable beyond traditional IT environments. ITIL began with a focus on control. The structured approach emphasised documentation, standardisation, and repeatability, all of which are necessary for consistent IT service management. Back then, it was all about minimising risk through rigid processes, and it was heavily centralised. While that approach was effective at the time, it was often slow and rigid, particularly when applied outside of IT. The most recent ITIL4 framework, however, emphasises collaboration and ...

Paul Brothwood | Why The Jubalaires’ Noah Still Fascinates Me

October 30, 2024

Paul Brothwood has long been interested in music, storytelling and overlooked cultural history. One track that continues to stand out is The Jubalaires’ Noah, particularly later reinterpretations and remixes. The Jubalaires — Noah [ Bassic Remix ] brings a fresh edge to a 1940s classic. Known for rich harmonies and storytelling, The Jubalaires combined gospel with fast-paced vocals, an approach that feels like a precursor to modern rhythm and rap. In the remix, Bassic keeps the soul of "Noah" intact, layering in bass and a beat that doesn’t overpower the original. The result is a track that respects the story while amplifying its rhythm, creating a bridge between two distinct eras. For anyone curious about early gospel with a contemporary twist, this remix highlights the enduring power of music and rhythm in a way that’s simple, direct, and surprisingly timeless. By Paul Brothwood

Paul Brothwood | Becoming a Project Manager at Three Years Old with Type 1 Diabetes

October 28, 2024

Paul Brothwood, Chartered Environmentalist and operations leader, has lived with Type 1 Diabetes since childhood. Paul Brothwood has lived with Type 1 Diabetes since the age of three. In this article, Paul reflects on how managing diabetes from childhood shaped his approach to leadership, planning, resilience and problem-solving. At the age of three, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, and everything seemed to change. Suddenly, life presented me with a complex and demanding project: managing a disease that does not take breaks and can be both unpredictable and, frankly, deadly. While most children were playing and learning, I was learning about blood sugars, injections, and counting each bite of food. I didn’t let it overwhelm me; instead, I took control early on to ensure that diabetes would never get in the way of the life I desired. Managing Ty pe 1 diabetes is a demanding daily task. From a young age, I oversaw my own injections, which were often five per day, and meticulously tr...

HSBC’s Overhaul: A shift in strategy reflecting changing times

October 23, 2024

As a former senior manager who started my career at HSBC through their Graduate Management Trainee program, I’ve watched with great interest as the bank undergoes a significant transformation. HSBC’s decision to split into four key divisions marks a pivotal moment, and it’s a move that echoes the shifting landscape of global banking. When I joined HSBC, the focus was on seamless global integration—connecting markets in the East and West under one unified strategy. I had the privilege of working within this framework, where the goal was to leverage HSBC’s massive global presence. However, the challenges facing the banking sector today—regulatory complexity, geopolitical tensions, and the rise of regionalism—are clearly pushing HSBC towards a more localised approach This restructuring signals a deeper recognition that the banking environment is more fragmented now than it was during my time at HSBC. The world is no longer as interconnected as we once thought, and businesses must be nimbl...

Can Bushido (Samurai Code) help small businesses achieve environmental sustainability?

October 21, 2024

As the Chief Operating Officer of a small construction company, I’ve often faced the challenge of making environmental sustainability part of our daily work. Adopting eco-friendly practices can feel daunting for smaller businesses, which don’t have the resources of larger firms. However, I found unexpected inspiration in Bushido, the ancient samurai code. Bushido emphasises values like integrity, discipline, and loyalty — qualities that resonate with me as I guide our company toward a more sustainable path. While the samurai applied these principles in their own way, modern businesses can use them to shape responsible, environmentally conscious operations, particularly in industries like construction, where sustainability is often seen as costly or complicated. Here’s how I think Bushido can help small businesses make meaningful environmental progress, even with limited resources. Gi, or rectitude, is about making the right choices, even when they’re difficult. For small businesses, th...

Search This Blog