11 Million takeover day 2007
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11 Million takeover day 2007
A sixth former from North Devon experienced life at the top on Friday 23rd November as she stepped into the shoes of the chief executive of Connexions Cornwall and Devon.
For one day, 17 year old Nicole Brown from Stibb Cross near Bideford replaced Jenny Rudge as chief executive as part of a national initiative called 11 Million Takeover Day. Led by the Children's Commissioner for England, it aims to encourage 11 million young people in the UK to take over some of the country's leading institutions.
14 year old Amie Cavanah from Bodmin worked alongside Nicole as she took over the role of the chief executive's personal assistant for the day...
Nicole's message to Connexions: You have been taken over today!
Hi my name is Nicole Brown – I am your chief executive for today! I am from Bideford, I am 17 years old and studying sociology, psychology and media at Bideford College for my real day job; although my UCAS form only went in today, I have been deemed qualified to be your boss - the chief executive of Connexions Cornwall and Devon Ltd.
No pay rises despite a number of requests I had when I visited colleagues in Launceston today. Amie Cavanah from the Impact Group in Bodmin has been my personal assistant and will be typing this and has been very busy supporting my role.
Today I have chaired a meeting and was congratulated for bringing it in on time. The meeting was about Activity Agreements and Learning Agreements and improving the performance of the service by thinking ahead – predictor indicators. My thinking is that, even though it is four different groups that we have been talking to about the indicators, they may not have the same definition of satisfactory, good and excellent. I suggest this needs more work!
Next, I reviewed the work flowing in to my office and quickly delegated it to those who should deal with it. Amie made sure this happened.
Whilst I was reviewing the work, a journailst phoned my marketing team and asked for an interview and for some photographs of me at work. Our communications and press officer took a number of these and Amie and I picked the best photos to be used with the article. I then did an over the phone interview with the journalist, explaining what I had been doing as chief executive of Connexions.
Finally, I made sure that the feedback from a number of young people on apprenticeships was carefully outlined and would be passed to the government department responsible for apprentice development. We also discussed issues to do with raising the leaving learning age.
I had a great day and really enjoyed myself. It was an amazing experience, being in charge of a large and successful organisation. The day has helped me learn that you need a good assistant working with you and that everyone’s role in an organisation is important and adds to the overall success of the company. As chief executive, you need to listen to all sides presenting their views but ultimately you have to make your own decisions.
A joint account of the day by the 6 young people who took over the Penzance centre...
On 23rd November six young people took over Penzance Connexions Office. They were invited to do this as part of the 11 Million Takeover Day which the Children’s Commissioner for England had set up to positively promote young people.
During the day they were involved in answering the telephones, meeting and greeting clients, helping with the library and helping with ideas for the new one-stop shop for young people in Penzance. They interviewed Connexions staff and visited the Share office in Penzance to find out about their service and their needs in the new office.
Fourteen year old Ben Mitchell said “I greeted people and answered the phone. It felt like I was at work!”
Shanei Carter aged 14, also stated that she had been very busy but she had really enjoyed the day.
The Connexions staff were kept on their toes and Mandy Jackson, the Connexions Team Leader, managed to drink Ben’s tea and smash the companies digital camera. The pictures already taken were rescued and a disposable camera was used for the rest of the day.
An enjoyable day was had by all resulting in some very tired but happy Connexions team members and young people. Everyone looks forward to next year!
Throughout the day other young people 'took over' in Connexions centres across Cornwall and Devon by meeting and greeting customers on Connexions helpdesks and becoming personal advisers and area managers for the organisation.
18 year old Kathleen's review on working at Connexions
The day started off with an introduction to the fellow workers for the day. They were all very friendly and welcoming. They briefed me on what was going to happen throughout the day; taking over the helpdesk assistant job. This required answering the phone and signing people in that came in for appointments. To help me answer the phone I had a laminated piece of paper to tell me how to introduce myself. I got a badge with my name on. It had the colourful logo of the 11 million takeover day on it. They also gave me a notepad and pen to write notes down.
It was fascinating finding out what it was like on the other side. My perception of Connexions has changed. When I go in Connexions normally I only know what happens in the appointments. I took for granted the other aspects of Connexions such as the front desk tasks of organising everything. I found there was quite a bit of paperwork, organisation of appointments and information packs to send off.
I found that working with Connexions is fun and exciting but also a lot of hard work. What I enjoyed most was giving and receiving information via the phone. I was nervous answering the phone at first but after a while I got used to it.
There was no fixed break so you can take one when you wanted as long as it is isn’t in the middle of something like an appointment. I really enjoyed it.
For one day, 17 year old Nicole Brown from Stibb Cross near Bideford replaced Jenny Rudge as chief executive as part of a national initiative called 11 Million Takeover Day. Led by the Children's Commissioner for England, it aims to encourage 11 million young people in the UK to take over some of the country's leading institutions.
14 year old Amie Cavanah from Bodmin worked alongside Nicole as she took over the role of the chief executive's personal assistant for the day...
Nicole's message to Connexions: You have been taken over today!
Hi my name is Nicole Brown – I am your chief executive for today! I am from Bideford, I am 17 years old and studying sociology, psychology and media at Bideford College for my real day job; although my UCAS form only went in today, I have been deemed qualified to be your boss - the chief executive of Connexions Cornwall and Devon Ltd.
No pay rises despite a number of requests I had when I visited colleagues in Launceston today. Amie Cavanah from the Impact Group in Bodmin has been my personal assistant and will be typing this and has been very busy supporting my role.
Today I have chaired a meeting and was congratulated for bringing it in on time. The meeting was about Activity Agreements and Learning Agreements and improving the performance of the service by thinking ahead – predictor indicators. My thinking is that, even though it is four different groups that we have been talking to about the indicators, they may not have the same definition of satisfactory, good and excellent. I suggest this needs more work!
Next, I reviewed the work flowing in to my office and quickly delegated it to those who should deal with it. Amie made sure this happened.
Whilst I was reviewing the work, a journailst phoned my marketing team and asked for an interview and for some photographs of me at work. Our communications and press officer took a number of these and Amie and I picked the best photos to be used with the article. I then did an over the phone interview with the journalist, explaining what I had been doing as chief executive of Connexions.
Finally, I made sure that the feedback from a number of young people on apprenticeships was carefully outlined and would be passed to the government department responsible for apprentice development. We also discussed issues to do with raising the leaving learning age.
I had a great day and really enjoyed myself. It was an amazing experience, being in charge of a large and successful organisation. The day has helped me learn that you need a good assistant working with you and that everyone’s role in an organisation is important and adds to the overall success of the company. As chief executive, you need to listen to all sides presenting their views but ultimately you have to make your own decisions.
A joint account of the day by the 6 young people who took over the Penzance centre...
On 23rd November six young people took over Penzance Connexions Office. They were invited to do this as part of the 11 Million Takeover Day which the Children’s Commissioner for England had set up to positively promote young people.
During the day they were involved in answering the telephones, meeting and greeting clients, helping with the library and helping with ideas for the new one-stop shop for young people in Penzance. They interviewed Connexions staff and visited the Share office in Penzance to find out about their service and their needs in the new office.
Fourteen year old Ben Mitchell said “I greeted people and answered the phone. It felt like I was at work!”
Shanei Carter aged 14, also stated that she had been very busy but she had really enjoyed the day.
The Connexions staff were kept on their toes and Mandy Jackson, the Connexions Team Leader, managed to drink Ben’s tea and smash the companies digital camera. The pictures already taken were rescued and a disposable camera was used for the rest of the day.
An enjoyable day was had by all resulting in some very tired but happy Connexions team members and young people. Everyone looks forward to next year!
Throughout the day other young people 'took over' in Connexions centres across Cornwall and Devon by meeting and greeting customers on Connexions helpdesks and becoming personal advisers and area managers for the organisation.
18 year old Kathleen's review on working at Connexions
The day started off with an introduction to the fellow workers for the day. They were all very friendly and welcoming. They briefed me on what was going to happen throughout the day; taking over the helpdesk assistant job. This required answering the phone and signing people in that came in for appointments. To help me answer the phone I had a laminated piece of paper to tell me how to introduce myself. I got a badge with my name on. It had the colourful logo of the 11 million takeover day on it. They also gave me a notepad and pen to write notes down.
It was fascinating finding out what it was like on the other side. My perception of Connexions has changed. When I go in Connexions normally I only know what happens in the appointments. I took for granted the other aspects of Connexions such as the front desk tasks of organising everything. I found there was quite a bit of paperwork, organisation of appointments and information packs to send off.
I found that working with Connexions is fun and exciting but also a lot of hard work. What I enjoyed most was giving and receiving information via the phone. I was nervous answering the phone at first but after a while I got used to it.
There was no fixed break so you can take one when you wanted as long as it is isn’t in the middle of something like an appointment. I really enjoyed it.