Co-operation Ireland - Morgan Stanley

January past I was in London at the BETT show and meeting a few people with respect to impending projects when I had a meeting with our CEO Peter Sheridan and our GB Executive Mike Murphy about fundraising and social media. At the end of the meeting they invited me to come with them to meet with some people from Morgan Stanley with whom they had made contact. These were Morgan Stanley employees who had an Irish connection and who wanted to help Co-operation Ireland.

The meeting took place late Friday evening and it was at that meeting that I heard the term 'leverage' used with great frequency.

To cut a long story short a joint project was formed to bring some young people from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland for a few days in July to Morgan Stanley to join in their Academy Programme and yes I was the one that was 'leveraged' into organising it.

The idea was to pick a selection of young people who did not all fit easily into their education systems, but were still perceived as having great potential and had leadership skills and influence over their peers. This sort of event could be responsible for changing the direction of their lives in a very positive manner. Do you think such opportunities can have a life changing effect?

Involvement in the project was by applications and 2 pupils from De La Salle School Belfast, 3 from Grosvenor Belfast, 1 from Ballyfermot Youth Service and 2 from St Dominics Ballyfermot were chosen. They will leave this Sunday, fly from Belfast and Dublin and spend 2 days at Morgan Stanley's offices in Canary Wharf London.

The programme will be a mixture of workshops and talks with a presentation by them on Difference and Diversity to the Net-Eire group. They will also be visiting London City Airport for a tour and some time on the Flight simulator. I may have to test it out first to ensure it is suitable.

Keep reading and indeed listening to their stories on this Blog next Sunday, Monday and Tuesday (4th 5th and 6th July)

Update

The first day of the Morgan Stanley project got underway today in the Morgan Stanley office in banks street. Some 23 young people from northern Ireland, the republic of Ireland and London were met by MS staff and brought to the banks restaurant and amenities area, a most impressive inviting area with a multitude of facilities including food, hairdressing and beauty outlets. They were met by Mike O'Toole and Paula Smith.

After they invite they were given a short talk on the financial services of Morgan Stanley by mark McNamara and Fergus O'Sullivan. This was followed by a tour of the trading room where they saw one of the main operations of the bank. The various divisions were explained and they could see traders and buyers go about their business.

Next was a short walk to 25 Cabot Street where the young people engaged in a diversity workshop in preparation for their presentation tomorrow. During coffee and tea break they chatted with Morgan Stanley personnel who told them about the variety of career paths available.

At present they are engaged in an apprentice like exercise to win money.