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Last week I had the honour of attending the 10th Anniversary Celebration at Clarence House for the Prince’s Trust Technology Leadership Group. Since its formation it has raised over £13.5m for the much needed work of the Trust helping disadvantaged young people in the UK. Indeed, with around 60 of the leading tech companies operating in the UK now Patrons or Members, the TLG is the ‘de facto’ charity initiative for the sector. Given that TechMarketView also services that same market, it is not surprising that our customers and those that support the Trust tend to be one in the same! So good to see so many of you last week.
A bit of history
The first seed for the TLG was sown by Steve Allen and David Ashworth of BEA Systems in July 2001. They brought that idea to Julian Barrell at the Trust. A lunch was organised with Sir Angus Olilvy which brought John O’Connell (then at Staffware) in as the Trust’s first major Patron and, indeed, John is now its longest supporter. A number of others joined the ‘advance party’ including James Bennett who, I think, invited me to the TLG launch on 1st May 2002. I pledged to do an ‘event’ for the Trust – the first of which (IT’s all over now) was held at Bloomberg in Nov 02 and the last (The Last Time) will be held on 27th Sept 12. In total my events have raised over £1m.
Soon after that the TLG committee was formed which also included Adam Hale. John O’Connell took over from Steve Allen as Chair. Since then James Bennett, myself, Adam Hale and now Fiona Timothy/John Caterer have served as chair.
At the reception last week over 50 of the people involved in this incredible movement over the years attended.
Leadership Group concept
But, as well as the debt of gratitude owed to the TLG’s supporters over the years, it has been the somewhat unsung heroes from the Trust itself to which much praise is due. They have included Tara Leathers, Jamie Webb and, in particular, Julian Barrell who, as the Trust’s Director of Fundraising, is as enthusiastic for the concept now as he was on Day One. Indeed the Leadership Group concept has been adopted by the Trust in Retail & Consumer, Construction & Business Services, Insurance & Financial Services and, most recently, Internet & Media. The Leadership Groups are now supported by getting on for 200 of the leading companies trading in the UK and are responsible for a significant proportion of the Trust's private sector revenues.
Youth unemployment
Julian Barrell in his speech last week pointed out why the Trust’s work was so important. In 2002, ten years ago, youth unemployment stood at 561,000. Today, at over 1m, it is getting on for twice that figure. The Trust has the funds to ‘touch the lives’ of just 50,000 of those this year. They need the help of the tech sector even more now than when those pioneers had such a great idea ten years ago.
Posted by Richard Holway at '15:49'
