Claire Young was made famous by her role as the highly driven runner up of series four of ‘The Apprentice’, starting out in roles at Colgate Palmolive, L’Oreal and Superdrug. Today Claire runs her own business, School Speakers and has co-founded Girls Out Loud, in addition to working in the media and advising the Government on projects helping young people onto the career ladder and more women into business. Claire was born in Johannesburg and brought up in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, where she lives with her three year old daughter, Eva.
“…A rested brain returns with new ideas, renewed energy and we are ready to face the new school year with plenty of oomph…”
Rest, recharge and rejuvenate
Not only do I like summer for the warm weather but I also know that the month of August brings me a rest! The School Speakers team and I work flat out across the academic year, September through to July, and use August to rest, recharge and rejuvenate.
Running a business and being an entrepreneur requires a lot of energy. Every day constantly driving your vision and delivering great service to your customer. My customer is a tough cookie … a young person and at times they are quick to be your biggest critic!
Clapping as the school gates close
Being inside a classroom you have to be on your ‘A’ game, day in day out, and give a hundred percent. This is why teachers are usually exhausted by the time the summer holidays arrive. You literally can hear them clapping as the school gates close and six weeks of peace and quiet lies ahead.
The School Speakers office remains open but we take the time to reflect, what has worked and what hasn’t throughout the academic year, and rest – we work part time hours. The time off allows us all to think freely with no ringing phones, pinging emails. A rested brain returns with new ideas, renewed energy and we are ready to face the new school year with plenty of oomph.
Working together on tasks and doing it all smiling
During the summer we may venture out with student camps, mainly Year 6 students transitioning into secondary school. It’s almost like being back on The Apprentice! You are thrown together with new people, have to work together on tasks (camping, building, outward bounds activities), lead, communicate and do it all smiling!
I particularly like working on these days, it’s refreshing to see how adaptable young people are to new situations, going out of their comfort zones, and a reminder how we should all be in a professional environment.
Ready to embrace the new school year
As much as I enjoy the holidays I look forward to the first week of September. I think there’s something inherent from being a child that the new school year is a fresh start and something positive to embrace. I intend to wrap my arms around it, give it a hug and am excited to see what the new academic year brings to School Speakers and the students we work with.
http://www.schoolspeakers.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/ClaireLYoung
http://uk.linkedin.com/in/claireyoung78
