08 March 2010
Marks and Spencer lived up to their quality reputation on Weds 3rd March when they organised a day for two competition winners from Farnborough College of Technology to visit their Chairman and Chief Executive, Sir Stuart Rose, and other senior managers. Josh Allen and Chris Krazakala, both business students, left the day feeling inspired about the possibilities of a career in retail.
The day had been planned to give the students a taster of areas of the business which customers see, on the agenda were womenswear and food, and also vital ‘behind the scenes’ functions like communications, PR, finance, property management and international strategy. All the managers gave a very honest account of their own career paths, their day to day jobs and the large challenges the company had faced and was looking forward to.
Meeting Sir Stuart Rose was inspirational for the students. He had started his career at about the same age as Josh and Chris, working his way up from the bottom rung of the ladder to the very top. He gave them both advice about seizing opportunities when they present themselves, and working hard when you are young with few ties or other commitments. Sir Stuart described the Retail Industry as a true meritocracy – if you are good, committed and work hard you can achieve. That advice will surely remain with Josh and Chris for the rest of their careers.
Chris summed up the day with this comment. “This visit has opened my eyes to a future for me. I saw that it’s possible for people to achieve their goals. If they can do it, so can I.”