Intern programme possibility for Otago Boys'

29/11/2008

Geoff Davies (1961-63), one of Britain’s most successful businessmen and the UK Entrepreneur of the Year for 2007, is keen to extend the educational links between Otago Boys’ High School, the University of Otago and some of the 17 companies in his Alamo Group Europe.

Geoff was in Dunedin last week as guest speaker at the Otago Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, dinner, as the University of Otago Business School’s Distinguished Visitor for the year and to visit a number of Dunedin businesses.

Geoff Davies - in Dunedin last week on a whistle stop tour

Although he has been based in the United Kingdom since leaving school, he retains strong links with Otago Boys’, being a Senior Fellow of the Foundation.

In the UK, Geoff sponsors five undergraduates a year through his group and there are 30 on the programme at any one time.

He told the Otago Daily Times he was keen to set up a similar programme in the city with his old school and the university. The programme would see an Otago Boys’ pupil being sponsored to study at the university before gaining an internship at one of the Alamo Group companies.

The intern would get exposure to UK and French companies before finishing his or her qualifications and working for the group.

Geoff is also looking for a New Zealand company he could buy in a rural area where he could send British interns to work. They would also possibly study at the University of Otago.

Education was a key part of the group’s self-development programme for workers, he said.

‘‘In all Alamo companies, everyone is encouraged to work towards constant improvement, both personal and companywide. Anyone, from the cleaners to me, is empowered to identify areas for improvement.

“Education is a high priority to me.’’

Geoff cited the case of a 16-year-old schoolgirl who was hired to answer the telephones in the office. However, she could barely answer the phones when she arrived. With Geoff’s encouragement, the girl studied to pass her A levels and went on to university where she qualified as a lawyer. She continued to work at Alamo as one of the group lawyers.

Young women and men were running production units with some guidance, based on their ability to work.

Alamo had a deliberate policy to base its company in rural settings where people needed jobs and there was a higher quality of life.