Croydon chief executive takes up schoolgirl work ex challenge (From Croydon Guardian)

Croydon chief executive takes up schoolgirl work ex challenge

7:40pm Tuesday 30th September 2008

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When a schoolgirl stood up in a Croydon Council meeting and challenged the chief executive to let her work with him she little expected to be taken up on the offer.

But Omoyeni Adefioye’s boldness paid off and she is now spending two weeks doing work experience with Jon Rouse, the man at the helm of London’s largest borough.

The Haling Manor student spoke up at a meeting last month and challenged the council to let her work in the council’s halls of power, a move welcomed by the Croydon Education Business Partnership (CEBP) who organised the placement.

A spokeswoman for the partnership said: “It is very impressive that this student chose that opportunity and dared the council to take her up on her challenge.

“We are encouraging students to make their own placement because that is the only way to develop employability skills. You do not get a job just given to you on a plate.

“We are particularly proud that Omoyeni chose to make herself known and was not frightened to go to senior management in a big corporation.

“Jon Rouse is showing a great example to other businesses.”

The partnership handles work experience placement for all pre-16 students in the Croydon borough.

The placements are designed to develop seven key skills in the children to prepare them for the rigours of working life, including time management, problem solving and team working.”

And special mention was given to Omoyeni and her resourcefulness.

A spokeswoman said: “She is a very aspiring student and a great example to everyone else.

“She is getting a real insight into what councils do which will be a great advantage to her in the future.”

The CEBP are looking for other businesses to open their doors to work experience placements.

“We would like to see a lot more big organisations to set an example. We need more companies to make it part of their corporate social responsibility.”

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