Two Sewell stars chosen for rising talent programme

Two of Sewell Group’s rising stars have been named amongst the brightest talents in the region, after being listed in the prestigious Top 30 Under 30 lists.

Michael Boland, Product Lead at Parallel, was chosen as one of the Hull & Humber’s Top 30, and Harry Hopkin, Consultant at Sewell Advisory, was selected for the West Yorkshire list.

Both Michael and Harry will now embark on a year-long development process via the Leadership Excellence Acceleration Programme (LEAP). This equips them with the skillset to become effective leaders, and also gives them access to a network of fellow up-and-coming professionals who are excelling in their fields.

Michael joined data intelligence company Parallel in 2022, after graduating from university with a first-class degree in computer science. It quickly became clear that not only was he a talented software engineer, but that he was great with customers too. He’s able to listen to their problems and translate them into a technical solution for developers – a rare skill in the world of software. Michael has now been promoted to Product Lead, and is taking on management of some major strategic projects for the company.

In less than four years, Harry has developed from a graduate fresh out of university, to becoming an established team member and a pivotal part of estates consultancy Sewell Advisory. Working across the project delivery and strategy parts of the business, since starting at the company he’s secured a host of demanding professional qualifications in Better Business Cases, APM Project Fundamentals and ISO auditing, as well as becoming a mental health first aider to support his colleagues. Harry doesn’t just excel in a work environment, but in his personal time also volunteers as a crew member at Humber Rescue, working in emergency situations to help rescue people and shipping vessels from the Humber Estuary.

Michael said: “I was initially shocked to be selected but incredibly grateful to be recognised as part of Hull and Humber’s Top 30 Under 30. It’s an amazing achievement, and when I shared the news with my family they were so proud. I’m really looking forward to the opportunities the programme will bring over the next year, learning from others and continuing to grow both personally and professionally.”

Harry said: “I feel incredibly proud and grateful to have been nominated for the programme. It’s a real confidence boost to know that my team and our leadership believe in me and see potential in my development. Being put forward for this opportunity means a lot, both personally and professionally.

“I’m really looking forward to being part of the LEAP journey, especially the chance to learn alongside other like-minded individuals who are equally passionate about developing themselves. What I’m most excited about is seeing how I evolve over the next year.”

Simon Jones, founder of Top 30 Under 30, said: “I am proud to announce this year’s winners, and our class of 2026. This year has seen us receive a record number of nominations, making the judging process the most difficult to date. Today, we celebrate the contribution of the region’s best young talent. This group have made a significant difference to their organisations, to their teams and to the local business community, and it is an honour to showcase who they are.”

Congratulations to Michael and Harry, and we look forward to seeing their development over the next year.