The School Governors' One Stop Shop- 2010 at a glance
For School Governors’ One-Stop Shop (SGOSS) 2010 has been a year of change, endeavour and I’m glad to say success. The office has been a hive of activity as employees old and new accustomed themselves to the significant change and modernisation that has swept through organisation. Culminating in one of the most productive, innovative and groundbreaking years in SGOSS’ recent history.
The beginning of the year saw SGOSS celebrate its 10th anniversary since its creation by the Department of Education in 2000. The organisation looked back with pride over a decade of co-operating with local authorities, facilitating the successful placement of new governor volunteers and engaging business.
The spring brought to an end a triumphant financial year for SGOSS which surpassed all expectations by successfully placing over 1500 governors inside 12 months. It also signaled the start of a significant period of change beginning with the commencement of the 2010 financial year which saw the creation of a new role within SGOSS. Those in charge of recruiting volunteers and those in charge of placing these applicants in schools were merged, ensuring a smoother and more consistent application process for all our volunteers. New applicants now deal with their own Manager at a much more personal level from recruitment, right through to placement, meaning that becoming a governor has never been easier.
In addition to this, the introduction of the new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system has put every aspect of the recruitment and placement process at the fingertips of our Managers enabling them to effectively and efficiently manage both volunteers and schools, further enhancing SGOSS’s award winning service. Accompanied by the revamping of our website, our service is more accessible to Schools and businesses than ever before enabling us to dispel the myths, deliver the facts and spread the word of governorship further than ever before.
The new structure was immediately put through its paces as SGOSS embarked upon a series of innovative and engaging campaigns. In London SGOSS has committed itself to working directly with schools significantly reducing the average placement time of our volunteers. In Kent our ‘Grow Your Skills’ seed sachets were distributed throughout the local and business community and their success was such that the campaign was extended to Hertfordshire. This, combined with campaigns in Suffolk, Norfolk and Northamptonshire contributed towards the 2,000 plus new governor applications received nationally in 2010.
By the end of the summer SGOSS was going from strength to strength and in August we successfully placed our 10,000th volunteer. This groundbreaking moment was celebrated at our recognition event held in the stylish surroundings of Linklaters LLP head office on Silk Street. The event, presided over by Lord Jonathan Hill the Parliamentary Under-secretary of State provided SGOSS with a chance to honour companies and Local Authorities alike, without whom our achievements to date would not have been possible.
In the Autumn SGOSS was boosted by the acknowledgement received in the coalition’s Schools White Paper which built on the research published earlier in the year by The University of Hertfordshire, demonstrating the continued value of SGOSS governors. In-particular the skills and expertise they bring from the world of business.
Finally, as the winter months closed in and England prepared itself for the ‘big freeze’ SGOSS was not caught out in the cold and closed in on the New Year with two consecutive record breaking months which saw 440 volunteers placed from October to November, ensuring that 2010 ended with a bang.
