BUZZ Issue 4
Mixing
work
Millenials, shaking up the traditional approach to work
& play
Mindfulness, what is it and what are the benefits
The real Swarm experience
Doing things differently through Enterprise & Innovation www.swarmgroup.org.uk
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elcome to England. You may our new-look even soon see us in 4th edition London too. of BUZZ. In this edition we Although the look has cover planning work been tweaked and the and achieving a life content focused, you with both dedication will still find the same to work and play. Swarm humour but You can find out how now, each BUZZ will to plan to get the best focus on the core themes of the Swarm out of your next Enterprise training, so Swarm apprentice. Take a moment to you can see exactly understand the impact what's going on in of mindfulness and Swarm as it grows. see some fascinating With the launch of our insights into the new quest to find new impact the rise of the Enterprise Heroes we millennial generation are running 3 events is having in business across Norfolk, Suffolk across the world. and Essex to grow the You will then get a awareness of Swarm sneak peek at a and launch our continued expansion shining example of an award winning local across the East of
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company that has embraced this culture change to great effect. As both a trainer of young people and a small growing business, it’s vital that we understand the changing culture of our future leaders and we should learn to harness their fresh thinking and purposedriven attitude to drive innovation to keep ahead in an ever changing world. Chris Perry
Swarm Group Managing Director
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contents Your Future
Inside scoop
Swarm’s Shannon & Chris take to schools to show young people the choices they can take after education.
The big inside interview with Swarm’s Shannon Watkins & Jessica Juby
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Schools must give apprenticeship option Swarm’s Lucy gives her opinion as to why schools should do more to offer apprenticeships as an alternative option to university.
Business Spotlight Cathy Casey gives us an inside look at the fantastic Saxonair
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Reason, Respect and Reality
Top Tweets & Millie
Swarm’s Carl on focusing schools and enterprises on a new set of 3Rs
The latest tweets from the Swarm and not forgetting the best pics of our mascot Millie
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Planning for Enterprise apprentices
What's a millennial ?
Top tips by Swarm group MD on how to plan for your new Enterprise Apprentice
How Generation Y are shaking up the business day
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Operations Update
Office perks
The latest update from the Swarm Ops team and their mission in supporting young people into apprenticeships
Emily Giles, Customer Service Advisor, at Naked Wines gives a peek at one of the top places to work in the UK.
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Quest for Enterprise heroEs Join our quest for new Enterprise Heroes at 3 events across Norfolk , Suffolk and Essex
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26 Swarm Experiences
Hear from four of our own Enterprise Heroes talking about their experience so far in the Swarm
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Latest Vacancies Junior Charter Sales Officer Apprentice SaxonAir Charter Ltd (private air travel), Norwich Apprentice Insurance Administrator Anglia Healthcare (medical insurance broker), Thetford
Financial Services and Marketing Apprentice Anglia Healthcare (medical insurance broker), Thetford Sales & Business Development Apprentice TIME 2013 (telemarketing), Norwich Administrator Apprentice Accredita (motor legal services), Norwich Apprentice Online Bookkeeper Rostrons (accountants), Norwich Enterprise Apprentice Technical Lighting Solutions (LED lighting), Norwich
What’s New
“
Doing your research about both options is extremely important, as obviously you can’t make a decision that will change the rest of your life if you are not armed with knowledge” Swarm Apprenticeships Ltd
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them to sign up on the National
want to become an Accountant /
Apprenticeships Service website.
Marketing Executive / Manager in
Even the ones who weren’t quite
business, then you are better off
convinced decided that they were doing an apprenticeship in those going to at least look further into sectors – and you can do more it. By just simply stating the truth
than one. I’ve done two, and I’ve
about the options they have once never looked back. Not once have they finish school, it made them There were 6 workshops to go
start to think that they had more
through and I had to give a 5
of a choice (excellently illustrated
minute speech in each one
by Swarm’s MD Chris Perry, using
outlining the reasons why I chose 2 pills: a red pill and a blue pill; the apprenticeship route –
the blue one representing the
though a little nerve-wracking
university route and the red pill
(due to never have given any
representing the apprenticeship
speeches before) this was a fantastic opportunity to speak to
young people about the truth about going to university and the benefits of doing an apprenticeship.
“
I wish we had been told this a year ago, because I thought university was the only option for me.”
said: “I wish we had been told this route. The truth about each was then explained – or the ‘side a year ago, because I thought
university was the only option for effects’ of both the pills.)
more information about apprenticeships. So that is exactly what we did, and we also helped
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both options is extremely important, as obviously you can’t make a decision that will change the rest of your life if you are not armed with knowledge. It is vital that young people are and actually think about what
they want to do in life – far too many people come to us applying for loads and loads of positions because they have no clue as to what would suit them / what they would enjoy doing, so naturally the importance of doing your
people within one group that
schools must start providing
But doing your research about
encouraged to do their research
There were a couple of young
me.” This pretty much says it all –
I regretted that decision.
The truth is, it also depends on how you look at it – if you want to become, for example, a Doctor, then a university degree is the option for you. If, however, you
research and thinking about what you want to do in life was emphasised when speaking to the groups at the careers fair as well. Overall, a great day to speak to young people about their options, and also network with
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What’s New other Chamber members as well. only really be useful for a few job We have become increasingly aware that it is now the time of year when young people are starting to think about their futures. The decision you make when you leave school is pretty
much a make-or-break one, as it is one that will have a profound
sectors but as for the rest – you don’t really need one now. It is highly important that you do some research. Think about it carefully, write down the pros and cons of each option you have ahead of you and the potential benefits of all of them.
effect on the rest of your life. A lot There are so many resources that of young people have come out
can tell you more about how
of university not knowing that
much you could earn in various
they wouldn’t be able to do an
different job sectors, and also
apprenticeship afterwards, and a whether getting a university lot of them are not very happy, so degree would be necessary. It is choose wisely.
also good to bear in mind that you have to do these things
yourself – it is your life, and your decisions to make. Obviously you can speak to others about what they did and whether it worked out for them, and look at what other people did – not everybody who is majorly successful went to university. So, what would be
best for you after you leave school? You tell me. It is not a matter of getting a degree is a pointless waste of time – the fact is, a degree will
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What's New Schools must offer apprenticeship option
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With limited time and resources, most careers advice is delivered in PSHE lessons or during offtimetable days. The staff delivering the PSHE lessons may well not be completely up to speed on what is available in the careers world, and one day a year during year 11 is not going to be long enough to fully get the message across. This being said they are promoting apprenticeships more than they were and are more receptive to the suggestion even for high performing chosen, be that in year 8 or year 9, and it should academic students. of course be reinforced all the way through from Apprenticeships come in all shapes and sizes that point until the end of year 13. and we are increasingly being approached by young people who would have naturally gone on to university, who are, quite independently, thinking that an apprenticeship offers a valuable, Lucy Martin, viable and financially rewarding alternative to Head of studying for a degree. Interestingly enough we also have graduates looking for opportunities to Operations get on to Intermediate and Advanced Apprenticeships because they are struggling to get into work due to lack of relevant work experience. Unless they can find an employer who is willing to fully fund the cost of the apprenticeship this is not going to happen.
With the current University fees and the recent news that grants are to be axed for university, the need to promote all types of apprenticeship to all levels of student makes sense, and this awareness should start before options are
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What's New
Reason, Respect and Reality
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number of ever-changing concerns facing business and the community in Norfolk and Suffolk. We should therefore support our Whether these be the transportation and young employees to question communication links, financial/ why we are doing what we are commercial conditions or social doing and to suggest change where appropriate. To ensure and environmental, the future At Swarm we have recognised this, they also need to entrepreneur needs to become that there is another set of “3Rs”, understand Respect. There is a aware of these at the earliest which are vital to the right time to ask these questions possibility. development of the enterprising and present these changes. It is individual, who is tomorrow’s not just Respect of their This reality is a vital part of the entrepreneur. These are Reason, manager, it is of the whole Respect and Reality. These could business environment, including reason, and must therefore be an important part of any changes. almost be seen as the soft skills colleagues, supply chain, for enterprise in business, and community, ethics and other Reality is dynamic. Life is everthey are the core base for the socio-economic influences. changing. Therefore a major part training provided by Swarm. of successful enterprise is A problem with reviewing and evaluating the A problem with education is that business environment and their education is that we teach how to do something, such as a maths problem or how we teach how to do own performance– a key part of to fix a leaking tap. We do not, the Enterprise training. something, we should however, teach why. By not getting our pupils or employees At Swarm we are training also teach why” to understand the reason for why tomorrow’s entrepreneurs, they are doing something means whether these be new Additionally respect is multithey will not develop the vision (Enterprise) apprentices or necessary to become directional. As employers, we enterprising. should respect our employees in existing workers who you see have that something extra. We By knowing the Reason, they can the same way that parents can work together to make them respect their children. Respect see if the reason is correct or more commercially minded, changes. This is the start to then includes encouragement. business aware and start to having the creativity to change the how (they do it). From an Then comes Reality. There are a (respectfully) seize empowerment. entrepreneurial view, it is making the changes to take advantages of the change of reason, not just to maintain sustainability.
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What's New They become an extra (“senior”) pair of hands, who can offer a fresh pair of eyes and become a long term member of your team. They will not be a passive member of the team. From the very beginning of their Swarm training they are encouraged to make impact to their organisation. This starts with the business opportunity project running through their course, where they are encouraged to find and develop an enterprising idea for positive impact at their organisation. These have contributed revenue, efficiency/ cost saving and new business lines from an early stage.
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To help us to embrace entrepreneurship, we need to encourage our new employees to also embrace it from an early stage. They are the future, whether as entrepreneurs of new organisations, or active “intrapreneurs” within your organisation, ensuring you are always enterprising and responding to change, be it good or bad. Let Swarm help your organisation embrace entrepreneurship by recruiting and training Enterprise apprentices or training your existing workforce…
Carl Long, Commercial Manager
Contact me today for more information– carl@swarmgroup.org.uk
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What’s New post graduates. Remember that the more specific the skills and experience you require, the longer it may take to fill.
apprenticeship position is no different than any other job role on the open market that has a degree of measurable impact and empowerment but you have to bear a few things in mind first with potential apprentices. I will try and make it simple and outline a few tips that you should bear in mind before you recruit. This will help make your Swarm apprenticeship recruitment bring in the positive returns you need from an innovative enterprising apprentice. The key is that Swarm focuses on growing your future managers and leaders which is why a lot of our employers we work with offer roles that are more empowered and significantly higher in level of accountability to most others. This means with the right training and support a young person can provide a lasting potential impact. This does mean however, that Swam has to find that 1 in 100 person who is capable of doing just that. Let’s be clear, a Swarm
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Remember this is a Swarm apprenticeship; not an entry level apprenticeship. Together we will be teaching the individual to go the extra mile in whatever they do and measure their impact and demonstrate a Return On Investment. Apprentices can deliver amazing things with the right mindset. Don’t be afraid to let them spread their creative Yes, some age groups of apprentices attract more funding wings. than others but it's swings and roundabouts. The younger the person the more funding you get but what you gain in funding you Keep it simple and focus on the will spend in extra time and support if the role is empowered. deliverable outcomes such as sales targets, KPIs or time/cost We find many 16 – 18 year olds savings. The apprentice will want may not necessarily have the to measure their impact so it’s level of maturity and life/work experience to draw on to quickly easier if you know what they embrace the accountability in the should be measuring and working towards. Their time needed for your particular Enterprise project can make a role. big difference to this.
It’s not just young people. Swarm apprenticeship positions are not just for school leavers. We attract a wide range of applicants for your role from 16-30+ years old. From GCSE/A level leavers to
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Competition for that 1 in 100 potential superstar is high and if you want someone who will really deliver impact, then do not pay the apprentice minimum wage. We recommend at least the
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What’s New national minimum wage for
their age.
Targets to achieve will inspire and drive a typical Enterprise apprentice. Tie them to measures the apprentice can work towards as they deliver increasing levels of impact.
Ideally this can be from someone who can teach them what a good job looks like onsite. Even with Swarm's extensive mentoring and training, we are not there every day.
want to work for a purpose that’s more than just money. Give them a purpose and the ability to work towards flexibility if they can prove impact.
We will be teaching them things on our training days that they won’t have ever known or grasped and most don’t naturally get to experience it every day in their roles. They have to learn and apply the knowledge to really be effective.
Chris Perry Swarm Group MD
The Swarm Enterprise course teaches them all aspects of being innovative in business and to really get the best from them, let them see how everything connects.
It’s been recently found that the millennial generation (born between 1980-2000s) are motivated by innovation, versatility and flexibility in the workplace, and are digitally aware. More importantly they
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What’s New
Operations Update
young people find their ideal career and set them on their way. I am pleased to say that after months of searching we have finally managed to place an apprentice in our most remote vacancy, with Norfolk Veg Box welcoming Genevieve into the fold. We will be with her every step of her journey and wish her luck with her new career and congratulate Richard on making a really good appointment in what were really quite difficult circumstances. Perseverance and determination really do pay off. We are working with a growing number of providers to ensure that we offer as many training options as we can to suit the needs of your businesses, in order to provide you with the best equipped members of the team that we can. Our own Enterprise training is up and running and will be developing over the coming months to become our signature diploma.
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ith the festive season a dim and distant memory life in the Ops room at Swarm is as busy as ever. We have seen several new businesses approach us in search of their ideal apprenticeship candidate and we have been successful in meeting their requirements. A week does not go by when we are not arranging interviews. The sales team have their work cut out to provide us with the fuel for our recruitment fire. We are currently running with a number of really good vacancies and have more pending in Norfolk , with North Essex getting running in the not too distant future. Have a look at our upcoming events in Norwich, Ipswich and Colchester and join us to find out how you can join in. Applicant levels have been good and the quality is, as always, high. It is a pleasure to help exciting
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From the Futures side of things, we continue to help people in their search for work and support them with their applications and CV work. We are running a series of door knocking exercises to try and engage with the customers directly so we will see how this goes, but we are hopeful of a upsurge in contact with those NEET youngsters who could do with the encouragement and support to enable them to enter their chosen field, be it college, employment or an apprenticeship. All in all we are entering another exciting chapter in the life of Swarm, there is never a dull moment here, it is always a pleasure to come to work and see what the day holds.
Lucy Martin, Head of Operations and Recruitment, Swarm @SwarmLucy
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Date for your diary Perry, comments, “These events are opportunities to find out more about our unique apprenticeship training that focuses on developing both an apprentice’s commercial skills and enterprising attitude. We are looking for enterprising and innovative employers who want to give someone a real opportunity to shine and make their mark in warm Apprenticeships Ltd potential of these bright young their business. At the event you'll are bringing their quest to people at our peril," commented get to find out how, over the last Colchester, Ipswich, and Peter Clitheroe, RSA Fellowship year, Swarm apprentices have Norwich to find and support Councillor for the East of England. already achieved significant the one in a hundred young "Swarm will open new doors for impact and return for their people with that elusive them, local employers and local employers and become entrepreneurial spark. RSA Fellows; creating commercially savvy young opportunities to use their business professionals who will Already established in Norfolk, undeniable potential to build be the leaders of tomorrow’s Swarm uses enterprise training to careers, businesses and the local economy.” connect young people with economy." attitude to businesses with For more information and to book aspiration. In Colchester, Swarm has teamed your free place, up with Essex-based housing www.questforenterpriseheroes.ev "These young people too often go association Colne to support the entbrite.com unnoticed," commented Robert quest expect to find at least some Ashton, Swarm’s founder. of this unrecognised talent "University doesn’t appeal and amongst their residents. Colchester: March 3rd nor does a trade apprenticeship. "Colchester is a thriving town," Ipswich: March 8th They often go to, and then drop commented Alistair Heron, out of, college and find Colne’s Partnerships and Norwich: April 14th themselves a job. We liberate Business Development Manager. them from obscurity and unlock “Swarm will create new their potential; they’re capable of opportunities not only for our much more." he added. residents, be they job seekers or employers, but across the Swarm are partnering with the borough. This joint initiative with RSA (Royal Society for the Swarm emphasises our encouragement of Arts, commitment to supporting Manufactures & Commerce) and individual inspiration and some of their local Fellows who investing in prosperous and are planning to act as mentors to independent communities.” the young people the quest identifies. "We ignore the Swarm's Managing Director, Chris
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Inside Swarm
Interview with Shannon Watkins, Project Co-Ordinator, and Jessica Juby, Marketing and Enterprise Manager
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hat’s your background? more to learn and wanted to further develop my skills, and SW: Whilst getting A-Levels, I did now here I am, working for Swarm. a variety of volunteer jobs for friends and family, and doing both at the same time instilled in me a love for learning, although I wasn’t really sure what to do when I left sixth form. Going to university appealed to me, but I could never afford it, so steered away from that route and looked for other options. After getting ALevels, I still wasn’t really sure what to do with my life. I had only just started to look around for apprenticeships, as I was given the impression that they were all just for Blacksmiths / Electricians etc. But after a short search, I was given the opportunity to do my first apprenticeship at a Financial Advisers. It was here that I developed a passion for finance, and I learnt some very useful skills. After completing this, I decided to go for another one as I had enjoyed doing this one. I also felt like I had so much
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JJ: I completed my two years at sixth form while working a summer job that I loathed, but I needed it to support my parents. Through a friend of a friend I was recommended for an interview with Robert Ashton, then owner of Turnpike Farm PR and editor of Park Home News magazine. I got the job, was able to leave my summer job behind, and have had the same boss ever since, moving from role to role as needed. I started off compiling a very long spreadsheet of potential advertisers for the magazine and contacting them to sell ad space. This led to my marketing apprenticeship and from there my involvement with the magazine and PR company grew. I’ve assisted on the running of the first ever ‘Festival of Social Enterprise’, I’ve supported George Freeman MP on his project ‘The Norfolk Way’,
I helped manage the first ‘Towards a Positive Future’ conference… I’ve even coauthored a book.
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hat did you want to be when you both were younger? SW: I wanted to become a groom, as I have loved horses ever since I was little. But the pay is rubbish and the nearest stable is too far away from where I live really. JJ: A teacher. My dad put me off by saying that I’d probably end up with a classroom full of students like my brother. I sought an alternative.
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hat do you always carry with you to work?
SW: I always carry my phone. The world falls apart when I forget it. (Well, it doesn’t but I just hate forgetting it.) JJ: Millie!
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Inside Swarm
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SW: Amongst other things, I would try to change the amount of tuition fee money that students have to pay to go to university. The amount just to study for a degree is stupendously ridiculous (in my opinion.) JJ: I’m a massive supporter of the ‘Dignity in Dying’ campaign and believe we should all have the right to die when we want, where we want, if the rest of our lives would be in continual suffering, so I would help pass a law to give people more control over this.
SW: Stop making excuses. JJ: Tell mum more often that you love her otherwise you’ll regret it.
f you were Prime Minister, hat piece of advice what one thing would you would you say to your change? younger self?
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ell us something that not many people know about you. SW: For some reason I love the smell of tea bags. JJ: I can make origami cranes.
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hat famous person would you most like to meet, and why? SW: I would like to meet Malala Yousafzai. For someone to have hat do you like doing accomplished so much and in your spare time? have had so much influence by SW: I love reading, writing, the age of eighteen, is pretty doing puzzles e.g. Sudoku, and amazing. The conversation playing computer puzzle games would be fantastic. e.g. Nancy Drew and Sherlock JJ: Chris Evans, the non-ginger Holmes mysteries. one, because he’s Captain JJ: Like Shannon, I’m a massive America. reader, mostly of sci-fi, fantasy and graphic novels. I’m also in the process of penning my future bestselling novel. I watch a lot of TV adaptations of comic books (The Flash, Agents of SHIELD, Agent Carter, Arrow, The Walking Dead etc). Basically, I’m a massive dork. I spend a lot of time with my gran too and taking excessive photos of Millie.
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Business Spotlight Saxonair variety of aircraft types and business areas with a personal but professional service. The Business Aviation Centre itself provides perfect facilities and location for Private Air Charter and Offshore activity as well as being the nominated provider of General Aviation Handling services to Norwich Airport. It also offers Hangarage, Office space and Conference Room facilities with up to date communication equipment available, ideal for business meetings, conferences or training courses. Offshore flight support and handling are provided to a large
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Senior Management on a day to day basis. I provide admin assistance to the HR function whilst also interacting with staff With an owned fleet of jets as well throughout the whole company as managing other aircraft, we on a day to day basis in a variety offer Charter flights and of ways. I train people in brokerage services, supporting Customer Service and also help worldwide business jet the accounts department with a operations on a 24 hour basis by variety of tasks. experienced operational staff. We also provide Helicopter Charter flights and local pleasure SaxonAir’s vison and values flying which continues to be very are simple: to continue popular with the local developing SaxonAir to be a community. leader in the provision of aviation services, ensuring safety and integrity are at the heart of the My job role as administrative operation with valued staff assistant is very varied. I support passionate about delivery of a
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service aimed at exceeding our customer expectations. Our mission is to release the potential of aviation to our clients, partners and employees through a profitable, safe and customer focused operation that’s supported by experience, financial stability and an appreciation of all it can offer.
SaxonAir was established in 2007 with the aim of providing flexible, convenient and cost effective private air travel and associated support services. The company was formed operating only a single Beechcraft King Air
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aircraft and a Eurocopter AS355 helicopter along with five dedicated staff members.
scheduled business, private and general aviation aircraft. Further contracts followed to provide dedicated ground support to the In 2009 SaxonAir became part of offshore oil & gas and renewables the Klyne Aviation Group. Under industry and today in excess of the Klyne Groups’ direction the 50,000 passengers and 700 business has continued to tonnes of freight are handled develop significantly by investing each year for flights in and out of in the aircraft fleet, brand new Norwich Airport to the Southern purpose built premises and more North Sea. staff, allowing for growth and Continued >>> diversification into wider aspects of the aviation sector. SaxonAir were awarded a 10 year contract in 2010 as the preferred Handling Agent to supply ground handling and associated services at Norwich Airport for all non-
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Business Spotlight
A growth in fleet and aircraft type Private Jets, Helicopters, Aircraft thus expanding variety to the Hangars, Air Traffic Control, business traveller. Runway and beautiful skies!
An apprentice can bring fresh My security pass! eyes and up to date learning methods and skills to a business. They can provide assistance needed to departments as well as developing their own skills and working practices for their future. They add significant value to the team.
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Top Tweets & Millie
Who is Millie? Millie is our Swarm mascot. She is a Chihuahua x Yorkshire Terrier who came to work with Jess one day and has been coming ever since. She doesn't do much, but whatever she does, it’s cute, and here we share some of that cuteness with you. We struggled to pick just one favourite photo for this edition so we narrowed it down to three, including one from over the festive season where she temporarily became Santa’s Head Elf. Follow Millie on Twitter: @SwarmMillie
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Generation y are shaking up the business day F
Jessica Juby, Enterprise & Marketing Manager
mate Barry and your cousin and ridiculously low wages or many, structure in the workplace has been Margaret. When are you going to compared to today’s standards. get around to finishing the DIY My parents ran their own so well-defined. you’ve started?
You start work at x time, y time you take your lunch, and you go home at z time. You have a set number of days leave. Your area of work may look identical to a place just down the street. You have goals to meet. You spend more time with the people you work with than the people you love. The same all applies to your
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The Millennial generation, my generation, are crying out for change. As a Millennial myself, I completely understand where the drive comes from. My grandparents told me stories of how difficult work was for them, with a much longer working day
business and I watched my mum day in and day out work hard and still struggle to make ends meet. Ultimately, working her fingers to the bone made no difference and the stress was a contributing factor to her sudden and unexpected passing of a heart attack in her sleep in December 2013 when she was 54.
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My parents started doing something they enjoyed but along the way, the fight got harder. Nobody wants a job that they end up resenting because it causes more stress than anything else and affects how we perceive ourselves and the world around us.
caused by this country bombing that country. The pressure is on my generation to make sure the world we live in is a good one and is protected for our children and their children’s children.
Let’s face it. It’s no small thing to ask. So are we wrong to want to spend the majority of our Social media also makes it easy working lives doing something to be told minute by minute we enjoy, are passionate about, updates on how terrible the and actually look forward to world is. At a touch of a button doing? I would say that no-one is, on your phone you can read not just millennials. With a about how you’re not doing your growing workforce consisting of bit to save rhinos or how millennial’s, the traditional washing your yoghurt pots will approach to work will no longer save the environment. You can last if you want to attract and see the damage and bloodshed retain these workers. Employees
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Millennial- Also known as Generation Y and Echo Boomers. Typically a person born between 1980 and 1999 who has never known a world without the internet and have different expectations about jobs and money. These younger workers are motivated not by money, but instead place a higher value on a good work life balance and a sense of purpose.
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working relationship to ensure that neither side loses out on what they value.
are looking for more from their company than just a payslip. Trust and respect have become even more desirable and there’s an increased need to be treated like a human, rather than a resource. Millennials want to make their mark and to do so, need to have opportunities and support from the businesses they work in.
“Plan A- where business has been motivated by profit alone, is no longer an option.”
Some businesses have already started changing their approach to the traditional working life. One of the most common approaches I’ve seen among businesses is unlimited holiday with giants such as LinkedIn, Netflix and Virgin offering certain employees the opportunity to take as much holiday as they like as long as the condition is met that they’re still able to meet targets and not overload their colleagues. Back in 2014, Richard Branson introduced his “non-policy” for annual leave for certain staff within the Virgin Group after his daughter showed him how Netflix had introduced the change to their company and called it a “downright courageous initiative”.
being that they are only going to do it when they feel 100% comfortable that they and their team are up to date on every project and that their absence will not in any way damage the business- or, for that matter, their careers!” This approach hasn’t worked for everyone though and Kickstarter revoked their decision to offer this generous holiday package as they found that the policy made people take less holiday, not more. It’s been suggested that these policies can be seen as a passive-aggressive method from employers to get staff to work longer and harder and employees actually end up feeling too insecure to take the holiday.
What other initiatives are being put in place? Hootsuite- recognising that
career ladders ultimately progress a person to a point where they’re managing other people, and that this has There can no longer be a onebecome a square-peg-roundway relationship with the hole solution for people that employer having all the power, He said in a blog on Virgin’s just don’t like managing people, but the balance can’t be tipped website that “It is left to the Hootsuite has designed ‘guru in the other direction either employee alone to decide if and tracks’ and states, “Pushing top with employees taking liberties. when he or she feels like taking performers through a one-sizeIt’s about creating a balance a few hours a day, a week or a fits-all management track may where both sides put into the month off, the assumption not be, at the end of the day,
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the most effective use of company resources.” These guru tracks, with the usual titles, incremental pay rises and real upward potential as traditional routes, allow talented individuals who excel in their field the opportunity to move up in the company in a way they’re more comfortable with, and avoiding managing people. Instead, “They may be awarded the reins of progressively larger projects with bigger budgets, freed from daily responsibilities to work on new problems and product lines, asked to mentor promising new recruits or tapped as thought leaders.”
Airbnb- weekly Friday meetings in every office then an allcompany meeting every fortnight which gets streamed live to its offices around the world where it talks about the most important things to the company. Annual 3 day meeting in San Francisco where all employees are flown in so everyone can meet and communicate face to face.
Google- “20% time” had been a dedicated time slot in a workers day whereby Google allows them to spend 20% of their working time on projects that aren’t directly related to their normal tasks. It’s as a result of this “20% time” that Gmail and Google
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News were generated by engineers.
allocated time if the situation isn’t right. What’s more, it doesn’t just apply to births, but to adoptions Virgin- to remind employees of too. They state on their blog, how innovative Virgin already is, “Netflix’s continued success a ‘Corporate Day’ was held within hinges on us competing for and the Virgin Management offices, keeping the most talented and everybody hated it. They individuals in their field. took the relaxed, exciting work Experience shows us people atmosphere that they’re used to perform better at work when and flipped it on its head. For they’re not worrying about home. one day, employees had a dress This new policy, combined with code, there were no fruit/snacks/ our unlimited time off, allows lunch provided with usual costs employees to be supported being donated to charity, they during the changes in their lives were limited to 1.4 teabags each and return to work more focused (I won’t question the maths on and dedicated.” that), no music and no These companies are large headphones were allowed, personal internet use was limited enough to take what could easily to lunch breaks, everyone had to been seen by smaller businesses as risks, but the most important greet each other with formal part is getting that working greetings, and the day ended relationship balanced correctly with a lovely corporate so neither employer or employee PowerPoint presentation. Fortunately, their torture ended suffers. I’ve felt both amazed and sick with envy while researching with some kitesurfing and for this blog… What could the paddleboarding… world be like if we all enjoyed our Netflix- this corporate is jobs? recognising employees desires on two levels with their unlimited Read on to see how a local company, Naked Wines, has paid maternity and paternity leave within the child’s first year- taken steps to improve the firstly, that there’s an increasingly working life of their employees. spoken desire for new fathers to not miss out on their child’s vital first milestones, and secondly, by allowing the unlimited leave there’s no pressure on a parent to return to work within an
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Office Perks Emily Giles, Customer Service Advisor, Naked Wines
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ell me a bit more about the office perks.
pool table, table football, fullystocked beer fridges (for Fridays), a fully-equipped kitchen and large The whole office is set out over 2 tables. The most talked about floors and is almost entirely open feature though has to be the -plan, designed to encourage The large space downstairs is giant slide pride of place in the interactions between staff within ideal for sociable lunchtimes and centre of the room! and across teams. We have a chilling out after work; number of areas to encourage this includes a ping pong table, One of my favourite things about Swarm Apprenticeships Ltd
collaboration including meeting pods, break out areas and a large lunch space where people not only eat, but also meet to work.
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Naked is that employee's well being is at the heart of everything.. it's almost a shame that this feels like a 'perk' of a job! It could be encouraged so much more in a variety of work environments.
BlueSpace, helped us to turn it into our dream office space.
In 2015, we won 'Best Employer Award' at the EDP Business We collaborated with an Awards crowning us the best occupational therapist to create hat do you have to do to place to work in the East of a wellbeing room (suitably enjoy those perks (if England and at the Retail named 'The Grape Escape') anything)? Customer Experience Awards, where staff can take time out we beat 02, EE and John Lewis to and unwind throughout the day. Nothing - we can help ourselves win Best Customer Service and to beer after our shifts as long as Just a few things it includes are a then went on to win the biggest it's a Friday! hanging comfy chair and lots of award of the night - Best Overall cushions/bean bags to chill out o you as a company think Customer Experience! If that on, accompanied by calming it has an effect on doesn't say it all, just last month lighting/music. productivity and efficiency, in January 2016, the Customer does it make you all a happier Happiness team hit a whopping We also have access to a free 92% 5* feedback from our breakfast and free fruit - there's workforce? customers. a Naked Walking Club and a Definitely! Naked Yoga club. If all of that doesn't prove The Naked Ethos is: "We believe productivity and efficiency, then I Also, every month we have “Free that happy staff = happy don't know what does! Overall, if Food Fridays” where the customers" and we have the you enjoy coming to work; the company puts on lunch for results to prove it's true. environment, the people, the everyone, provided by local atmosphere etc then naturally We’re one of the Top 100 Best foodies OR prepared by one of Small Companies to work for in you're more likely to give the teams. It’s great for team morale and a good way to get to the UK (three years on the trot). customers the best service you can. An uninspired work place know people from other areas of We’re a 3-star accredited breeds uninspired people and the business. company by Best Companies, we believe that having fun can the highest accolade they dish Were they already there or did boost creativity and productivity.. out. the boss put them in? and it turns out some of the best ideas emerge over a game of We moved in to our new office in We have high staff retention pool! rates, with 91% of staff sticking June and it was fully designed around for 2 years or more. and created by and for us - a www.nakedwines.com
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local office design company,
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Mindfulness
Sue Wright
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indfulness is a way of fully paying attention  without judgement and focused on the present moment.
You can acquire the skill through techniques including meditation and yoga. Although the practice has its roots in Buddhism, secular mindfulness practice is now mainstream. That’s partly due to the work of the American Jon Kabat-Zinn, who launched a programme at the University of Massachusetts Medical School back in 1979.
Since the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programme began, many studies have been undertaken, documenting the physical and mental health benefits.
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Research indicates that mindful meditation or yoga provide key people are more aware of their conditions for calming and thoughts and feelings, and, in quieting the mind. turn, better able to manage them. There is a clear link between the Mindfulness training improves amount of time spent in engaging your focus and concentrating, as with formal training and positive well as resilience and emotional changes in well-being. However, intelligence. That then improves informal practices have their place your relationships with others. A as well. lot has been written about Our day to day lives create our mindfulness over the last few informal training ground. Practice years. Reading the popular press, can occur during eating, walking, one could easily think that it is the showering or washing the dishes, cure for all ills. It isn’t. but does not have the same Many businesses have embraced impact on the brain as formal it and some have even instituted practice. Anecdotal evidence mindfulness lessons, seeing it as suggests that there is a virtuous an essential life hack for increased circle between formal and worker productivity. There is no informal practices. doubt that it can increase levels of In a world that is always on, we efficiency and effectiveness, but it need to know how to find stillness is a way of being, not doing. and calm. It is a natural way of Mindfulness is a skill that needs to being and an antidote to stress. be discovered and explored when That state helps us to heal, think the time is right. It is not a and regain perspective. competitive sport. You must take Mindfulness can help us achieve time to understand where that. It is not a new age thing but a kindness, curiosity and human thing. It can help us be the compassion fit in. With best we can be both at work and mindfulness, multitasking is not a at play. badge of honour. Like all skills you cannot start to In broad terms, there are two practise them just when you need forms of mindfulness practice: them most. In the words of Jon formal and informal. Formal Kabat-Zinn: practices such as a sitting
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Mindfulness Sue Wright is the CEO of The XX Corporation, a new media company, and writes a One day, mindfulness might just Only you know if mindfulness is be the best tool you have in your business column for its right for you but consider mental tool box, sharpened and flagship publication, The exploring its possibilities. ready to use when you need it Malcontent most. (www.themalcontent.rocks) If you do wish to investigate it further, find a practitioner who If you would like to continue the She is also trained to has received appropriate training conversation around mindfulness teach the .b mindfulness and has a regular formal practice You can find me on Twitter curriculum. “You don’t want to start weaving the parachute when you’re about to jump out of the plane”
‘prescribe’ meditation as part of your treatment.
themselves. Don’t be afraid to enquire.
@firstintheq. Why not say ‘hello’?
If you have mental health issues, you should discuss with your doctor or health care professional whether you should undertake mindfulness. In some cases, your doctor may even be able to
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Swarm Experiences
Swarm Hillary Whales, producer, lambda films
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ow much have you progressed since you began the Swarm training? Since beginning the Swarm training I feel I have progressed well. When I started out in my new apprentice role I was slightly unsure of myself. Swarm helped me understand the business world and how to handle situations as an intrapreneur.
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hat does the future hold for you?
I hope to continue working with Lambda Films as their producer as well as further develop my skills and learn more about the industry I’m working in.
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ould you recommend Swarm to a friend, why?
Yes, I would recommend Swarm to a friend. It is a great way to hat parts of the course have you enjoyed so far? step into the working world, gain experience and develop valuable I really enjoyed the one on one skills. It is a great experience for mentoring. After every mentoring someone who needs guidance. session I was inspired to work Knowing that Swarm has your harder and to be creative! back throughout the whole apprenticeship is great! hat new skills have you learnt as part of your ow would you rate the Swarm training? mentoring visits that you’ve received? I have learned many new skills from Swarm training. I have I valued each mentoring session. learned how negotiate more It was great to have someone efficiently. understand what I was going through as well as answer any
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questions I had.
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hat does your enterprise project involve and how’s it going? My enterprise project is about my role as an apprentice and why my company needs to hire a full time producer. My project is going very well, I have had plenty of opportunity to ask questions and do thorough research. I think my business plan will be successful.
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Chris Reeve, Marketing Executive, Conectia
I
am delighted to achieve my Swarm apprenticeship.
The whole process has taught me a lot of things, including both advanced & vital basicbusiness skills.
unique range of performance marketing services to an extensive global network of premium brand clients.
The Swarm apprenticeship gave me the perfect ground base of knowledge to build upon, moving forwards in my career."
I am very proud to start my new job working at Conectia as Marketing Executive. My new Gaining this qualification wasn't role involves me playing a part just a piece of paper. It meant I in all sections of the email could actually prove my marketing team. This includes credentials to my new optimising email creatives for employer, Conectia. the client, scheduling campaigns, handling the data & Conectia, based in Norwich, much more. offer a comprehensive and
Jack Edwards, Membership Administrator, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce
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aving been on a few of the enterprise sessions shortly after completing my apprenticeship in Business Administration; I found them invaluable! They were laid-back, informal and, above all, extremely informative.
One example our trainer that day (Carl Long, now Commercial Director at Swarm), gave us was the horse meat scandal at Tesco, and how it increased sales at rival stores. This taught me to think about the wider picture when looking at national stories and see if the business I work for can capitalise on that.
One that sticks out quite predominantly for me was the Business Environment & UK Economy, it helped me to In short, I would highly understand how outside recommend the Enterprise influences can affect a business Training Workshops to other quite dramatically.
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young people, the lessons I learned from them will stick with me for the rest of my life.
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Berri Lake, SLT Support Assistant, Ormiston Victory Academy
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rganisation is a very important part of work and must be used to ensure that you carry out all tasks to the correct and expected standard and applies to nearly every situation. It can be very useful and beneficial to break tasks down into sections that can be attempted one at a time to make the task less overwhelming. Another part of being well organised is to ask for help. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it shows that you would like to do the task correctly and seek advice in doing so. If you are too busy to do a task, don’t be afraid to say NO! – It’s not organised if you say ‘yes’ to everything and can’t fulfil all tasks to the required standard.
To keep on top of my tasks, I use my outlook calendar to its full potential to ensure that I can flag tasks that need completing, colour code them and ensure that they are placed into my calendar with due dates so that I can ensure completion.
of few trained first aiders, and as a non-teaching member of I prioritise tasks by importance staff, I am called on for medical and urgency; for example, if emergencies, this means that there is an event happening even if I completely organise within the Academy or visitors my day, it could be disrupted. to the Academy, this takes However, due to my priority over some other work, organisational skills, I still that may be deemed priority by complete most tasks, most that member of staff. days.
However, even with a great amount of organisation, things can still go wrong, and when things don’t go to plan, you need to know what to do. You need to be aware of whom to liaise with regarding this when I plan my working day based on deadlines can’t be met; it is the events of the Academy that very important to report and I work within and the tasks that explain the issue to the the Senior Leadership Team appropriate colleague. This would like to be carried out. must be done as soon as This means that every day is possible, so that they can alter different. However, there are plans accordingly, if required. some tasks that I undertake on The biggest struggle of every a daily basis – for example, day are the additional tasks organising payments for school that I cannot control; I am one trips.
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The Enterprise course has taught me that it is very important to be organised, especially within the workplace as you are part of a team and every one must work to the best of their ability to ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and within the given time frame. In regards to organisation in home life, this differs to that in the work place. However, I set myself deadlines and organise aspects of my life, like paperwork and bills, to ensure deadlines are met.
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Second Skydive in a year for Swarm apprentice Courtney payne
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suppose I think about the future more than anyone really should; what’s in store for myself and everyone around me - the good, the bad; all completely unknown. I believe if something good happens to you, you should grab it with both hands. I know first-hand that life can change so tragically and drastically in a matter of minutes. No one knows what’s round the corner. So, I take it upon myself to help as many people I can, who, for whatever reason, need that extra help to ensure their own quality of life is good. I find myself dedicating
Courtney with her gran
a lot of my time to charities and causes that do just that, because while you're helping other people, not only do you feel good inside but it makes your own problems distant and small compared to other peoples.
Last summer, along with a lot of other events, I challenged myself to flying 13,000 ft. in the air and jumping out with just a parachute between my life and my death. Doing this skydive allowed me to raise over £500 for Nelsons Journey, a charity which I volunteer with, having used their services and wanted to give something back. Having been bereaved of a parent and falling into a deep, dark hole of depression and anxiety, I felt it was my duty to help Nelson’s Journey as they helped me get through this time in my life.
in order to show my support, I am doing a second skydive this summer, to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK, in honour of my Nan. My aim this time around is to raise £250, an easy target compared to the funds my first skydive raised. If you’re able to support me in my skydive and in turn through me, Parkinson’s UK, then any sponsors or donations can be made through my JustGiving page where all money will go directly to Parkinson’s UK, to benefit other sufferers, just like my Nan.
Most of my fundraisers are to raise funds for Nelsons Journey, but Parkinson’s UK is another worthy cause very close to my heart. A few years ago, my Nan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. After several setbacks, she is constantly Courtney Payne reminded of her diagnosis, but Countrymans’ of Norfolk she very rarely lets it get in her Meals Ltd way. Her courage and strength www.uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ inspires me every day, and so Courtneypayne
All donations, big or small, will be gratefully received. Thank you all
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Are your employees fit for purpose, or are they fit for the future?
More than just a qualification. www.swarmapprentice.org.uk 01953 609 752