Partner Article

Getting to know... Doug Dinwiddie

We know you as the founder of Maitland, and a partner of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, but who is the person behind the title? Tell us a little about what makes you tick… 

I'm a father to a young family. Dog walks and 2-year-old birthday parties seem to take up a lot of my personal time these days. 

I live in Darlington which is the perfect place to be within striking distance of Newcastle for work and nights out, the coast for family days out and flat walks - and the Lake District for some less flat walks! - while only being a couple of hours by train to London and Edinburgh to see my two brothers. 

I have also been known to sneak out on the golf course once or twice a week...

Did you always want to work in your industry?

Not really. I did a Sports Science Degree at university, then fell into a career caddying on the DP World Tour (then European Tour) which was a great way for a young guy to travel the world and be close to the action in some of the world's biggest events. 

I always wanted to run my own business and started my entrepreneurial journey with some terrible ideas (and some not so) while I was still caddying. 

I started Maitland (then White Digital) when I was still on tour. I was fortunate that most of my caddying life was spent east of the UK, so I was ahead in time zones. This meant I could often get two days of work into one. Caddying in the day, then working through the evening when it was still office hours back home. 

What’s the best bit about your job? And the worst?

The best part is people. I love everyone I work with and have worked with over the years. We've been fortunate to have a great team for a long time and we work with some fantastic clients all over the country. 

The worst part has got to be... people. There's been more sleepless nights accumulated thinking about how to engage with people in the right way and make sure that everyone is working together towards a shared goal.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Watching the senior team run the show. Building a senior team in Maitland has been one of the toughest things I've ever done but I watch the guys now and it feels great to see them pull the strings and make changes with confidence. 

How do you relax outside of work?

Probably not too dissimilar to most... I'm lucky to have a great group of friends who aren't scared of hosting a dinner party. Hanging out with the family is never dull. Golf, squash, walking the dogs or going to the Lakes or relaxing with a glass of wine are regular events for me.

I was lucky enough to take my 2-and-a-half-year-old out on the golf course for the first time a couple of weeks ago. So that was double the fun!

What makes the North East such a great place to live and work?

We have everything we need on our doorstep. Whether it be time in a city, on the coast or out in the countryside, you can get everything you would like easily. 

The people are fantastic. I love getting out around the North East business landscape. Through organisations like the Entrepreneurs’ Forum I've met so many lovely people. Everyone always feels so supportive. 

Tell us something about you we didn’t know…

Hmm, how much to divulge... I'm a self-taught guitarist. I do use the term guitarist loosely though as I think the only person who has ever actually requested that I play them a song is my son. And come to think of it, he's stopped asking Daddy to play songs now!

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Entrepreneurs' Forum .