Business Diary: October 9

Mr Charlton told the audience at the Women’s Business Forum in Harrogate that he is inspired everyday by Yung Jie – a member of the facilities team at the law firm’s Hong Kong office.

“She kindly and gracefully provides us with tea, coffee and other refreshments and keeps everything very tidy and ship shape.

“Yung Jie and I both start work pretty early in the morning and quite simply Yung Jie always kick starts my day with a beaming smile and a happy ‘Good Morning’.

“Without a doubt, Yung Jie is one of my most influential, current role models, and I have a few.”

But why, you may ask, is she so influential?

“Well, Yung Jie’s smile and her positive approach to life are in the face of considerable adversity and distressing change,” said Mr Charlton.

“She’s been suffering from cancer of the ovary since 2010, she’s endured two debilitating bouts of chemotherapy, and the bones in her back are calcified.

“And if that isn’t enough, she lost her mother last January.

“And yet through it all she gives her work and her flock in the office a committed attention and care with tremendous good humour.

“Yung Jie may never walk on the moon like Neil Armstrong but they share the same integrity, humility and inspiration.”

Both prove a major point, he said, that “regardless of gender, role models are everywhere, we just have to look around us”.

Co-op superheroes

A NEW graphic novel tells the story of a different kind of superhero – the founders of the co-operative movement.

The Northern history story has been turned into an 80-page graphic novel to celebrate what the publishers are calling the “most successful grassroots campaign the world has ever known”.

A group of 28 weavers and artisans established a co-operative shop in Toad Lane, Rochdale in 1844, which went on to spur a global co-operative movement that is now a billion members strong.

The novel is published as part of the celebrations to mark the United Nations 2012 International Year of Co-operatives.

Paul Monaghan, head of social goals and sustainability at The Co-operative Group, said: “The story of the Rochdale Pioneers is incredibly relevant to the challenges the world faces today.

“Back in the nineteenth century, the political establishment would not tackle the ills of democracy or poverty, and so the Pioneers and thousands of communities took action them- selves.

“Today, the world over, new revolutionaries are tackling everything from feeding a growing population to generating clean renewable energy.”

Author Paul Fitzgerald added: “As a social justice campaigner, and an active member of the Co-operative movement, bringing this story and its characters to life again was an intense and often moving experience – we hope the end result will resonate deeply with everyone who craves a sense of hope and optimism in these challenging times.”

The graphic novel is available in paperback and e-book formats.

League leads way

THESE are challenging times for young people looking to make their first foray into the world of work.

But businesses can play their part by running apprenticeship schemes.

Rugby Football League is setting a fine example with the recent appointment of two young apprentices at its headquarters at Red Hall in Leeds.

Kenny Phiri, 16, from Castleford, and Adam Wrigg, 17, from Swarcliffe in Leeds, are the first people to enter the RFL’s new apprenticeship programme for business administra-tion.

The new apprentices will have a chance to work in different areas of the RFL over the next two years.

RFL chief executive Nigel Wood said: “The new RFL Apprenticeship programme has been designed to develop skills and qualifications over a two-year period.

“This is a really tough time for young people starting out on their careers and I think it is particularly important that organisations like the RFL are looking to create some new apprenticeship opportunities.”

The RFL Apprenticeship programme is run in partnership with INTEC College.