Just finished my two days back to back - meeting 250 A4e staff. Phew - pretty tired now - but filled with ideas and thoughts. As soon as people had gone home I was in touch with the relevant senior teams at A4e to tell them of  the things I had learnt and the things we need to think about - and the few things it appears we need to sort out straight away.

The people that came over the two days were great - funny, lively, opinionated and therefore made it really worthwhile.

My general impression is that people love our shared vision to improve people's lives - ..View Complete Post

This Wednesday and Thursday around 250 A4e staff have been invited to come to my house for a 'chat'.

Around 125 on each day. I really look forward to these days - ( I have done several before) - it is a chance for me to meet people and very importantly listen to their thoughts, ideas, moans!, solutions and bits of friendly gossip!

I know that on the invite list - the organising team has concentrated on people who are relatively new into the business - but if anyone else would like to pop along for one of the days - there are a few places left - and I would love to welco..View Complete Post

I spent a day at the House of Commons last week as a guest of Patrick McCloughin (the Conservative party Chief Whip and my local MP). Fascinating day - I sat through Prime Ministers Question Time ( the Trident discussion day) and then had lunch and a chat with Patrick.

After lunch he had arranged for me to meet with members of the shadow cabinet to swop a few ideas - get an understanding of their thinking and I suppose tap into A4e's thinking on social and welfare reform etc. This is the team that have been tasked by David Cameron to think the unthinkable!

Very interest..View Complete Post

If you have been following my blogs - you will know I have been 'on the road.' Several countries, many cities, hundreds of people all with ideas, thoughts, comments and their view of the world.

Now I have had time to reflect and some thoughts are definately taking shape - most of them I will relate to A4e - but I suppose they could apply to most organisations that try their damndest to do good stuff for other people.

A4e Volunteers

First off - I have seen many many examples of volunteering - I have seen how volunteering is stunningly good for the vol..View Complete Post

Just returned from a whirlwind trip to visit A4e's operations in Israel. Non stop - I met so many people, I spoke at a large conference, I spoke to hundreds of staff individually and in large groups, I met clients, made many impromptu speeches, listened to (and did my best to answer) tens of questions, met with our charitable supporters, ate and drank with homeless people, leaders of institutions, colleagues and Alizia Olmert ( the PM's wife).  

My overall impressions?

Wonderful people full of life, energy and emotion. Determined, funny, opinionated - as ..View Complete Post

Packed my bags - gathered up my essentials! - three hours to Heathrow - sleep and then catch the early morning flight to Israel. A4e has a large centre in Jerusalum - helping seven thousand families from right across the ethic range to find work. Some amazing work is being done - with great success. I am visiting to say thank you to all the people involved. ( I hear that we speak 17 different languages in the centre - fantastic!)

Quite rightly - the staff in Jersalum want to get the most from my visit - so they have got me working every hour - making speeches, meeting Governmen..View Complete Post

As part of the C4 programme i did called Secret Millionaire - I met an amazing woman called Win. A star in her community -a warm, loving, up beat person who volunteers helping adults with learning difficulties.

Without exception - everyone who watched the programme fell head over heels for  Win - so did I. Everyone I meet always asks me - 'How's Win?'

Win is great - fighting fit, loving life and we are in touch on a regular basis. We have had lunch in Harrods, done some shopping, chatted on the phone and are busy making plans to get together in the summer - Win, me, my ..View Complete Post

I am getting big numbers reading my blogs - cheers.

However a special message to the A4e gang - I would really like to think that everyone at A4e is having a read - please point them in the right direction - let me know how many people you have encouraged - some names etc - the person who gets the most new readers - I will send you a case of the infamous award winning Jaipur Indian Pale Ale - brewed in the brewery at my home.

I'll also give you a massive mention - so let me know - I am wrapping the beer as I type...

Cheers

Emma. 

Why oh why when a company gets bigger do some people feel the need to distance themselves from direct and practical actions? It seems to me that some managers make things more difficult by asking that everything goes through them - channeling all the information - and thus blocking the natural flows. What a shame. Real leaders will set the shape and the vision - outline the outcomes they need to see and really encourage people to get together to achieve. No blockages - no fixed protocols. People speaking directly to the people they need to speak to.

I had a blog respo..View Complete Post

Just returned from an inspiring trip to Germany and France. A4e has just opened up new centres in these countries - the new centres are dedicated to helping unemployed people find work.

I flew into Dusseldorf on Monday with Roy Newey (the guy who has been leading the international develpoment)- and was met by Achim ( A4e Deutschland boss man) - I liked him straight away - cool, switched on and mildly eccentric. He drove us to the A4e centre in Gelsenkirchen. I walked in. Wow - it was A4e. It was all there - the feeling, the smell, the smiles. I met all the staff ..View Complete Post