Page 16 - link magazine

16 Relaunching soon: www.swindonlink.com

From Pitt’, steel city USA, to railway town Swindon, via Wall Street NYC
Former corporate lawyer, investment banker and business consultant, Kim Davis brings formidable skills to her new role as business manager
at Isambard Community School in North Swindon.
She’s clear that schools of the fu- business sponsorship has an impor- of a charitable organi- ment and I couldn’t
ture will have to operate on a differ- tant role in providing the extras, by sation helping women believe a school was
ent level. “Schools, particularly at way of equipment, experiences and and children, using her calling on the skills I
secondary level, need to be run like visits, to enhance learning and talents to plan their had - from managing
a business where the quality of edu- broaden horizons.” fundraising strategy. the budget and tak-
cation and the benefit to children are Kim trained as a lawyer in Wash- Her husband’s work ing a strategic over-
seen as the most important output. ington DC before joining a New York brought the family to view of development
“The Isambard headteacher, law firm, where she specialised in London where, once to seeking corporate
Rachel Mattey, and the first staff are corporate transactions. She moved settled, Kim studied art support. Education is
all extremely committed to ensur- on to become an investment banker and antiquities at a new field for me,
ing that the education received there before taking a break to raise her Christies. but I’ve always been
will be the very best available.” family. Her interest in de- conscious of how
“Whilst state funding will cover While looking after her three sign led to a new business venture teachers at my high school back in
the academic aspects of education, daughters, Kim became president when she launched her own fashion Pittsburgh inspired me through edu-
label. Her elegant designs were pro- cation.
duced in England and exported to “I would never have realised my
department stores and boutiques in potential or seen the opportunities
the USA. without the public sector education
The business grew rapidly until I received. The Isambard position
long hours and travelling to Paris seemed such a great chance to give
and North America meant that Kim back to education what I had gained,
was putting in the same long hours albeit in a different country.”
she thought she had left behind. She After getting to grips with the
decided to close down the venture school budget, Kim has begun work
and study marketing before setting on a business plan and five year
up a consultancy for medium sized marketing package to attract spon-
companies. sorship for the school.
When she happened by chance to “You can be sure I’m not at all
see the advert for the Isambard po- embarrassed about approaching
sition, Kim realised that it would be companies in the town and further
an opportunity to use all her experi- afield. As a brand new school we
ence and give something back to will have an amazing facility which
society. we intend to make a flagship for
“I kept looking at the advertise- Swindon.”
[email protected] www.brookes.ac.uk/schools/shsc

Akers Way
Swindon
SN2 2NQ
Tel: 01793 528800

Required as soon as possible

Nova Hreod Governors need a ‘Nova clerk’
Scale 2 Point 12 (£7.33 per hour)
15 hours per week term time only
This is an exciting opportunity to be part
of the governors of this new school.
The hours per week will vary according to demands
of the work. Some evening work will be required
The successful candidate will have:
✔ A good standard of numeracy and literacy
✔ Computer literate in Microsoft Office
✔ Good organisational skills
✔ Good word processing knowledge
✔ Good general administrative skills

The closing date for applications is
15th June 2007
For further details, a full job description and
an application form, please contact the school
or e-mail: [email protected]
www.hilarys.co.uk

1 June 07 16 18/5/07, 12:35 pm