Case Record – Carillion Leadership Programme: A personal commitment to community engagement

Details:

Date: Location: Business Group:

2003 Branksome School, Darlington Lee Parkinson from Carillion Building worked with the school

Activity:

As part of Carillion’s Leadership Programme I have been working over the last year with a local comprehensive school supporting them in their efforts to achieve Specialist Schools Status as a Business and Enterprise School under the Department for Education and Skills Programme 2002 / 2003. The school is called Branksome Comprehensive School and is based in Darlington County Durham. My activities have included –

•	Development of local business support. Connections with local industry will be critical to Branksome's success in being granted Specialist Schools Status.
•	Development of a communications pack to market Branksome's vision to the business community.
•	Deliver a "Presentation Skills" workshop to pupils who will be selected to market Branksome Comprehensive School to local businesses.
•	Support and facilitate Branksome Comprehensive School efforts in gaining recognition as an "Eco School“.
•	Facilitate advice / support in developing a Sustainability Action Plan for the Branksome School.
•	Present the Sustainability Action Plan to the key stakeholders of the school.
•	Offer coaching through the Sustainability Action Planning process.
•	Offer support in exploring innovative methods of generating power, dealing with waste and transportation to the school for pupils and staff.
•	Hold a site visit for pupils interested in a career in the construction industry.
•	Be an active member of a local community development group (Branksome Business and Enterprise Group).

Working with the school as part of Carillion Leadership Programme also as an ex-pupil of the school the activities have been most rewarding.

The schools Deputy Headmaster who is leading the efforts to achieve Specialist Schools Status as a Business and Enterprise School has commented on Carillion’s involvement –
“The support that we have enjoyed through Lee and Carillion has greatly strengthened our proposals to the Department for Education and Schools. Lee has worked very hard in supporting our vision as a business and enterprise centre and is a great example to our community as an ex-pupil of the school.”

Business Benefits:

• Employee motivation.
• Demonstrates real commitment to local community engagement.