Gary Waterfield, Regional Construction Manager from the Zurich Birmingham office has been particularly busy recently. In addition to his day job, Gary has been sharing his skills with Queen Alexandra College, a national college based in Birmingham for people aged 16+ with visual impairment and other disabilities.
It's all part of the Skillshare programme run by the Zurich Community Trust which matches up Zurich employee volunteers with charities to encourage the sharing of professional skills and experience. Not only do the charities benefit from this donation of business know-how, but Skillshare is increasingly valued as an effective learning and development opportunity for Zurich employees themselves.
Gary and Helen (Furness) with Kayleigh Carter who won the Zurich Outstanding Achievement Award at QAC's recent Friends & Family Day.
Gary's story
"I first heard about Skillshare last year," says Gary. "What I liked was the professional development perspective and, at the same time, the possibility to give something back. To be honest, I've done very little for charity previously, except for the odd donation here or there. Skillshare is the furthest thing away possible from rattling a tin or jumping out of planes, all of which were my previous perceptions of how to help a charity. I've only had four meetings, so a lot of the ideas are still at a conceptual level, but here's just a taster of what we've talked about so far.
QAC Charter Mark Brand, Product & Marketing - the College has developed a new code of practice about how to deal with visual impairment in the workplace. I've been able to suggest new ways for them to engage with corporates so that they sign up to become 'more visually impaired/blind friendly' in the working environment. In no way am I a specialist marketeer, but my sales background certainly helped me to suggest different ways for the College to approach businesses and get their interest. and how they market themselves.
Dining in the dark - based on a restaurant in London 'Dans le Noir' which does just this, I've suggested that maybe the College offers local businesses a team-builder event with a difference - a meal in the dark along with other blind-folded activities such as sports and team building, trust and communication exercises to assist with College fundraising, whilst helping to educate local businesses about visual impairment.
Employment skills - I'm also talking with the College about helping the students with interview practice via role-plays - some of the young students find it hard to adapt to life after College so we want to develop their social skills. This may also lead to work experience within Zurich for some of the students.
I was initially slightly apprehensive about the idea of doing a skillshare. What I would say, though, is that when we are challenged or, better still, challenge ourselves, often our best work is produced - and what a rewarding environment for this to happen. Within a charity lies a comprehensive business structure enabling transfer of existing skills and development of new ones, where quite often our day job does not lend itself. The relationship I now have with the College team is really something special! It's a huge confidence booster and I recommend anyone to try it." Gary.
| "Having someone with a corporate outlook has provided a new way of thinking in terms of what we’re offering and how we approach the market," says Hugh Williams, Principal at QAC. “Local community support is vital in helping us provide great opportunities to our learners. To have a company like Zurich choosing to support us in such a hands-on way is fantastic, so much so we’re exploring more ways in which we can work together”. |
In 2010 to date, a total of 84 Zurich employees across the UK have volunteered for the Skillshare programme. Every skillset is in demand, ranging from marketing, making a presentation and giving excel or powerpoint training, to creating a database and developing a business or strategic plan.
