Darren Davidson is managing director at Route, a Newcastle-based media agency which he runs alongside business partner Ben Dascombe.
Route offers client in-house marketing teams and creative and communication agencies, designed to be a ‘modern alternative’ to traditional media buying agencies, focusing on customer engagement, growth and retention.
From entering the media industry to his biggest inspirations, Davidson shares his career journey and words of advice…
How did you first get into your industry?
In 1996, I got my very first role in the media industry, working at ITV in London. I was an assistant, scheduling TV adverts for ITV Tyne Tees. I was fortunate enough to have a few friends who got into the industry after university, and thanks to them, I got my foot in the door.
What do you love about your job?
I enjoy the client variation and the challenge that working across different sectors brings. I get enjoyment from seeing a business flourish and knowing that Route had a tangible impact on its growth and success. That’s a really big motivating factor for me.
Who – or what – has inspired you in your career?
I’ve always loved learning, and it’s one of the reasons I went to university. A passion for learning is vital in this industry, as everything is constantly changing. Keeping up to date with the latest trends, innovations, and developments is what drives me. It excites me to be able to learn something new every day.
What are the biggest challenges about your job?
The array of choices is both a challenge and a positive. However, it’s crucial that we, as a business, understand what the right choices are when advising our clients. Another challenge is what I touched on before – the constant change. If you left the industry for six months or a year, some aspects could be unrecognisable when you returned. It’s like shifting sands, you can’t stand still.
What skills have been the most crucial to you succeeding in your career so far?
Active listening is a crucial skill. It helps me understand the challenges our clients and partners are facing so that as an agency, we can come up with an effective solution.
It is also important to have the confidence to accept other people’s opinions and points of view. Because of its vastness and variation, it is impossible for one person to know everything in this industry.
What was your first salary and what could someone getting into the industry expect to earn nowadays?
As a TV Sales Assistant, based in London, I earned £10,500 a year. Salaries are much different these days. As an employer myself now I’m committed to running a Living Wage business and offering our team fair pay.
What education or training would be most useful for someone looking to follow your career path?
For me, it’s all about your mindset. Obviously, having a good level of maths and effective communication skills are important, but it’s all about how you apply yourself.
An inquisitive mind and a thirst for knowledge are key. At Route, we have team members at all levels of experience and from different walks of life. We work with apprenticeship schemes and offer virtual classroom training to enable everyone to benefit from on-the-job experience and work towards an industry qualification.
What advice would you have for someone looking to follow your path?
Gain as much knowledge about the wider industry as possible, whether that’s through work experience, training, or study. While it’s key (if you have a specialism) to know it inside out, gaining a broad view of the industry, strategy, and the wider team you work with is just as important.
