"It's not about ideas, it's about making ideas happen!"

About Tru Powell

I was born in Birmingham, UK and grew up in a single parent household with my six siblings. Growing up in an inner-city area, life was far from easy. I learnt at a very early age I had a passion for enterprise, the arts and events, something that would later in life give me a career. At eight years old I organised my first event in my bedroom I shared with my twin brother. The event was a talent show that took place in an abandoned garage that was approximately 100 yards from our house. I invited local talent to perform and paid them 10p each. I invited all the kids in the area who all paid 30p each for entry. Those days we didn’t have social media so it was marketed entirely through word of mouth – the best form of marketing! I knew then that I had passion for enterprise, developing and providing a platform for talent and curating events. I became an ‘Artreprenuer’.

I now stand as the Founder & Managing Director for The Alternative Events Company, an event management company that specialises in coordinating high quality corporate and youth events across The Midlands. The business has worked with a variety of organisations across the city including Marketing Birmingham, Birmingham City Council, Birmingham City University and Trinity Mirror. I am also the Managing Director for The Alternative Wedding Group, a luxury wedding planning organisation that specialises in wedding planning, wedding coordination and wedding masterclasses. In addition, I am the Creative & Events Director for Aston Performing Arts Academy, a community interest organisation that exists to empower young people through performing and creative arts. Since the organisations inception in 2004, the company has impacted the lives of over 3000 young people in the Midlands. The organization currently works with approximately 100 students weekly, providing extra curricular arts activities.

I am an Ambassador for Love Brum and also a Trustee for Creative Academies, a charitable organisation that offers educational, personal development and training workshops that prepare young people and adults for real life. I am really passionate about events, enterprise and the arts. I have a career spanning over 15 years in the events industry planning consumer, corporate and celebratory events. My expertise crosses over a variety of fields including project management, marketing and communications, PR, social media and strategy. Over the years I have been awarded with numerous accolades for enterprise and my contribution to the arts. In 2014 I was recognised as one of Birmingham’s most inspirational young leaders and recently been nominated to be featured in the THIS BIRMINGHAM campaign.