About Paul Cadman
Professor Paul Cadman is a Birmingham entrepreneur, educator and charity leader. He rose from an inner-city childhood and undiagnosed dyslexia to lead businesses, teach at university and back causes across the West Midlands.
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Born and raised in Birmingham and now in Portrait
Paul Cadman: born and raised in Birmingham
Paul Cadman grew up in Bordesley Green, and he still calls himself a proud son of Birmingham. As a young man he worked on the city’s markets, where he learned to talk to anyone, bargain fairly and spot a chance. Those skills came long before he ever stepped into a boardroom.
Early turning points
School was a daily struggle. Because of undiagnosed dyslexia, Paul left school unable to read or write. However, he did not let that define him. Instead, he learned to treat dyslexia as a strength, so it pushed him to think differently, solve problems creatively and notice what others miss.
Later, his path from illiteracy to university professor became one of the most powerful parts of his story.
Those early setbacks also shaped what he wanted to do with his success. Above all, Paul wants to make a difference for others, especially young people who, like him, might find themselves at a crossroads. That is why he believes so strongly in second chances, and why he works to open doors for people who need them most.
Serving in the Fire Service
Before business, Paul served with West Midlands Fire Service. The job taught him to stay calm under pressure, work as a team and take full responsibility for every decision.
It also showed him the value of donated blood and plasma, because he saw it help patients at the scene. Those lessons still shape the way he leads today.
Sport, humour and staying grounded
Paul was a keen athlete, too. He became British All Styles Martial Arts Champion in 1987 and played rugby at a high level. Yet he also enjoys the lighter side of life, so he still smiles about being the 1974 Hook-a-Duck World Champion and a dual crabbing champion in Barmouth.
1987
British All Styles Martial Arts Champion
1974
Hook-a-Duck World Champion, by his own cheerful account
Barmouth
Dual crabbing champion on the Welsh coast
How Paul Cadman builds and gives back
Paul’s career links business, education and community. Each part feeds the others, and all of them aim to create chances for the people who need them most.
Paul Cadman in business
Over the years, Paul has built and grown firms in technology, manufacturing, recruitment, events and public affairs. In this picture here, Paul is at one of his happiest places working with the staff and young adults at BYSA.
Today Paul Cadman leads One Thousand Trades Group, a Birmingham group of businesses, as its Group CEO. The Group is home to Walk Through Walls, Life Sciences Week, The Technology Supply Chain, The Innovation Awards and Starting Point Recruitment.
Starting Point Recruitment gives a portion of its profits to employment support projects. You can also read more about how Paul leads the Group.
Teaching from lived experience
Paul is a visiting professor of entrepreneurship at Birmingham City University and an Honorary Fellow of University College Birmingham. His link with UCB is personal, because he earned his first qualification at its College of Food.
In his classes, students hear about failure as well as success, and about what leadership really involves. Find out more about his academic roles and research.
How Paul gives back to Birmingham
Giving back runs in the family. Paul’s late father, Ron, gave blood for 50 years. Since then, Paul has carried on that tradition with more than 300 plasma donations. In 2024, he also launched the Plasma 10 campaign with NHS Blood and Transplant, which asked Birmingham firms to sign up new donors.
Closer to home, Paul Cadman chairs Birmingham Youth Sports Academy and has supported charities such as St Basils, Acorns Children’s Hospice and Fisher House. On top of that, his personal goal is to plant 200,000 trees in his lifetime.
Key milestones for Paul Cadman
The path Paul Cadman took from the Birmingham markets to the boardroom includes some notable moments. For dates of current and past positions, see his board and advisory roles.
1987
British All Styles Martial Arts Champion
2014
Regional lead for the Institute of Directors in the West Midlands
2018
Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and of The Lunar Society
2019
Joins Birmingham City University as a visiting professor of entrepreneurship
2021
Named Male Brummie of the Year at the Birmingham Awards
2022
Honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University, and chair of Birmingham Youth Sports Academy
2023
IoD Non-Executive Director of the Year, and co-founder of Walk Through Walls
2024
Launches the Plasma 10 campaign with NHS Blood and Transplant
2025
200th plasma donation, and the first Life Sciences Week in September
2026
The first Defence Procurement Conference, held in Birmingham in June
Values: standards, stewardship and service
Paul’s leadership rests on three pillars. First, standards mean excellence is a habit, not an act. Second, stewardship means leaving things better than you found them. Finally, service means that success is measured by the benefit you bring to others.
Connect enthusiastically, give relentlessly, and lead bravely.
– Paul Cadman
Excellence is a habit, not an act.
In practice, Paul expects quality in the basics every day, whether the task is large or small.
Leave things better than you found them.
In the same way, every business and team is something to grow with care and then hand on in better shape.
Success is measured by the benefit you bring.
Above all, Paul judges his work by the jobs, chances and support it creates for other people.
Invite Paul to speak
Paul speaks about leadership, dyslexia, jobs and the Midlands economy. A short biography and headshots are also ready in his media kit.