News Rising to the Challenge! 29.08.2019
Last term over 100 Collyer’s students have tasted the real world of business at the Challenge of Management 2019, run by the Ofsted outstanding college at the 5 star South Lodge Hotel!
The event, hosted by Collyer’s Deputy Principal Steve Martell, enabled teams of ten students, each led by a top representative from the business community, to compete throughout the day in a number of business games and team building exercises.
Collyer’s Chair of Governors Dr David Skipp, gave the opening address to kick-off the big day: “The Collyer’s community are incredibly proud of the employability and progression work actively inspired throughout the year by our Deputy Principal Steve Martell and Employability Coordinator Lucy Hargreaves.
“The Challenge of Management event has been going for over 30 years and really is a tremendous annual event. We are very grateful to South Lodge Hotel and today’s experts for supporting our young people and helping to make it such a success.”
Expert business representatives and guest speakers on the big day included: Clare Allen (Head of Network, Disney + Europe), business expert Neil Bennett, Taylor Bennett (1st Class university 2018 graduate and ex-Collyer’s student), Liz Boffey (Head of Insight at Nestle), Nick Broom (MD PVL UK Ltd), Luke Dorman (HDC Apprentice and ex-Collyer’s student), Ann Donoghue (Vice-Chair of the Collyer’s Governing Body and Senior International HR Professional); Kris Gibbons-Walsh (Head of Network, Fareshare UK); ex Collyer’s student Ella Howard (United Learning Project Lead); Nick Kearley (CCOR Manager, Lloyds Banking Group), Ian Robinson (Business Support and HR Manager Assurity Consulting); Dominic Wakefield (MD Wakefield’s Jewellers) and Guy Watts, also an ex-Collyer’s student, now MD at Architectural Plants. Collyer’s student transport to and from South Lodge on the day was kindly sponsored by Guy and Architectural Plants.
Collyer’s Principal Sally Bromley said: “The Challenge of Management event goes from strength to strength and is a key part of the busy cycle of progression and employability activities that run throughout the year.”
Throughout the day, attention was drawn to the learning opportunities that the tasks provided and TV-style Q&A’s with experts Clare Allen, Kris Gibbons-Walsh and Guy Watts, and two ex-Collyer’s students, gave an insight into what was possible after college. Taylor Bennett spoke about university life, and Luke Dorman, answered questions about his experiences as a Customer Services Engagement Apprentice at Horsham District Council.
In addition to practical and personal advice, student teams enjoyed an interactive Role-Model Ice-breaker and then competed in a Sculpture and Presentation Competition, a Cave Rescue dilemma and the ever-popular Production Challenge. Using real life examples and techniques, teams discussed, planned and presented their ideas, winning prizes throughout the day.
The individual networking student prizes on the day, sponsored by Nick Broom and PVL UK Ltd, went to Caitlin Faroo, Daniel Katz and Beth King (Networking Award Winners) and a special ‘Couldn’t Go Home without a Prize, Prize’ went to Violet Given. The overall top Key Contributor Prize (a beautiful watch, sponsored by Wakefield’s) was presented to Matt Dunningham by Dominic Wakefield.
