Member Spotlight: Duane Cormell, Director – Realm Recruit

Each week we get to know one of the pro-manchester membership a little better. This week it’s Duane Cormell, Director – Realm Recruit…

1. Favourite quote or saying?

‘Mind how you go, bab’ – it is in no way profound but, it just reminds me of home (Birmingham)

2. Career highlight?

The whole of 2019 and everything the Realm team achieved last year. We didn’t have the easiest start to life as a business and for a while it felt like, however positive the feeling from within, the results just weren’t coming. 2019 was the year the results starting to align with the positivity within, and the faith the whole team put into our values and way of working started to really pay off.

3. Why do you love pro-manchester?

Because it is more than just another networking forum. I’ve made friends and met some great contacts through pro-manchester, but also developed professionally through the vast range of valuable events that it puts on.

4. What are you reading at the moment?

Simon McCrum’s ‘The Perfect Legal Business’. It is a must read for anyone working in the legal profession or supplying to it.

5. What are you watching at the moment?

Aside from a lot of football and re-runs of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, which are constants for me, I’m almost finished watching the Fall – which sadly peters out a bit after a strong start – and I’m loving Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.

6. Favourite meeting place in Manchester?

Whilst I’ve not been there for what seems a long, long time, it would still be Pot Kettle Black in Barton Arcade – I love the coffee there.

7. Favourite lockdown activity?

Truthfully, eating a takeaway.

8. Most creative meal that you cook?

I really like to cook but, I wouldn’t say I’m that creative; I prefer cooking more traditional foods. I’d happily back my Sunday roast – never had any complaints.

9. Most creative thing you’ve seen on a video call during the lockdown?

An interactive, Mick Hucknall themed quiz. Like everyone, I’m done with Zoom quizzes, but that one was good!

10. Most mundane task you’ve completed since being in lockdown?

Gardening. I’ve now got my garden to actually resemble something like a garden rather than a scrap yard, as it appeared before.

11. Do you write a blog that you’d like us to share?

We regularly blog at Realm (https://www.realmrecruit.com/blog-news/blog/tag/3/advice-from-realm.aspx) and I co-host a niche podcast about family law (https://refreshingchatsfamily.buzzsprout.com/).

12. What are you looking forward to doing again the most after lockdown?

I don’t think it is going to happen for a good while yet but, going to a football match on a Saturday afternoon. I rarely got the opportunity to go to watch Villa, whom I support, pre-lockdown but, the fact that you’re just not allowed anymore has almost made me miss it more.