Paul Vogel - CEO Sleepout UK

Paul Vogel

How long have you been in business for?

33 years

What are some of your driving values?

I am textile designer and run a design agency. So my core values are always about creativity and delivering to my clients. Innovating through my work practice. Travel and exploring. learning, helping.

You’ve always been great at giving back, why is it important to you?

I realise how lucky I am to be able to do a job I enjoy and the lifestyle that affords me. Taking part and giving back reminds me how lucky I am. I know that sounds a bit twee, but doing a sleepout and giving up my bed for a night and going home afterwards for a shower really hammers home how being homeless must be a living nightmare. How important it is to highlight Homelessness. I’ve learned so much from CEO Sleepout. The common misconception that homelessness people are just drug addicts plays into a narrative that demonises and means people don’t have to care.

Which causes are closest to your heart / one thing about society in the UK that you wish you could change?

Mental Health issues are top of the list. It’s woefully underfunded are so many problems today stem from it. We’re not building enough houses for council house housing stock. Education is too focused on Maths and English and not enough on the Creative industries.

How did you get involved in the CEO Sleepout?

I’ve always been interested in helping with homelessness and found out about CEO sleepout through a friend. I haven’t fundraised much before because I always felt embarrassed asking friends for money. But I was surprised how much people were ready to give to a cause if you were doing something proactive.

What other ways do you "give back" or work to strengthen communities you work within?

I get involved with Textile Design Education, I mentor and lecture at colleges. I always had people who helped me at each stage in my career helping with work placements and advice about next steps so I just want to be part of that chain for someone else.

Name one thing you'd like people to know about your life and work:

I’m a textile designer who specialises in checks and stripes. If you see somebody wearing a checked shirt or jacket, It could be a Paul Vogel design - in fact, it probably is.

How might you see business playing a part in creating a fairer society here in the UK?

I think that businesses already provide fundamental care for their employees by giving them jobs. The income keeping a roof over their heads. But they could do more to ensure their employees gave a good quality of life. A 4 day week would really help. I think that business should care more about their employees. Profit is obviously important but welfare in more important.

Why is it important that those in business lead with purpose?

It’s very hard to run a business at the moment and make ends meet. Leading with purpose means that it’s not all about profit but that there’s a social conscience. It’s a fine balance but better to try and help than not to.