Hot off the press this week, one of the Silver Pride directors, Benjamin Benn appeared in the Derby Evening Telegraph discussing his typical week. Here is the full article from the paper for posterity:
I take my two cocker spaniels for their daily walk across Allestree Golf Course, then head to the office on Pride Park before the morning traffic. After I've checked e-mails and post, I meet my fellow directors for our monthly management meeting. We discuss business strategy, target clients and our work in progress. Often we are joined by an advisor or consultant. The business is classified as high-growth so we have to take advice from a number of public and private organisations. This afternoon, we have a meeting with a leisure centre company down in Oxford to discuss their current website and how our web content management system could work for them.
TUESDAY
I'm up early to walk the dogs because I need to be in Leicester at 8am for a "security for the internet user" Chamber event. We offer e-commerce web solutions as part of our services, so any update on security for users is extremely important. Afterwards, I head down to Elan IT Recruitment's offices, in London, for a meeting with their head of IT. They are already using our web management system for two of their main web systems and there is now talk of rolling the system out across their websites globally. I make it back from London by 3pm to break the good news to my fellow directors. I make a quick call to the mayor's office to discuss arrangements for a charity trip to Skegness and the rest of the afternoon is spent producing quotes for other clients and updating our prospects system with new leads.
WEDNESDAY
After getting soaked walking the dogs this morning, I get into the office for 8.30am. I have a meeting at Derby care specialist Prime Care to discuss a content management system for their existing website and how we can help them increase new business. After collecting lunch for everyone in the office, I have a meeting with Strand Wools. We've been mentoring them on how to maximise revenue through their existing e-commerce site. Having got soaked this morning, I console myself with a well-deserved pint or two at my local, the Red Cow, in Allestree.
THURSDAY
I'm at the Showcase, Market and Sell breakfast networking event at the Mickleover Court Hotel this morning, aimed at local companies who are looking to break into new markets. In the afternoon, I am out of the office working alongside IT specialists Orchid IT at Cedar Care Homes. Orchid are soon to install a new IT system for a care home and I have been working as an independent adviser to ensure that the system is set up to be user-friendly.
FRIDAY
In the office, we run over the sponsorship deal we are putting together for Allestree Vintage, our local football team, before we all go over the quotes we have been working on since our meeting with Elan. I am out and about for most of the day, visiting new customers to give free website reviews. Back in the office for 2pm to meet with our adviser from the bank.
SATURDAY
I have flying lessons on Saturday mornings at Derby Aero Club in Eggington and have started my private pilot licence training – something I've always wanted to do. I pop into the Red Cow for a pint and some lunch before playing golf with some mates at Allestree Golf Course. As usual, I end up back in the Red Cow for the rest of the evening.
SUNDAY
This morning I'm playing 5-a-side football at JJB sports centre, having been reluctantly dragged out of retirement. Then it's off to the supermarket for the weekly shop. The afternoon is usually taken up either catching up with friends or browsing the Sunday papers, then a nice glass of wine and a thought for what lies in store for the days ahead.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 - Derby Evening Telegraph
