Thomas Paige
PIPS Host Organisation: Growing Kent & Medway (GKM)

During his placement with Growing Kent & Medway (GKM), Thomas Paige played a crucial role in gathering feedback from companies that had participated in various GKM programmes, including mentoring, grants, and business accelerator initiatives. His responsibilities involved contacting these companies via email or social media to arrange and conduct feedback meetings.

Thomas utilised a list of questions provided by the GKM funding body, which focused on aspects such as turnover, employee numbers, and environmental and business benefits. He meticulously prepared for these meetings by researching each company’s background and their involvement with GKM programmes.

Despite a response rate of only 15-20%, Thomas successfully compiled enough data to create a preliminary report. This report, presented as an 18-slide presentation, highlighted the positive changes observed in companies after engaging with GKM, such as increased turnover.

Through this experience, Thomas honed his organisational skills by arranging and setting up meetings, improved his communication skills through conducting interviews, and developed his presentation skills by producing the report. Although he does not intend to pursue a career in the PIPS field, Thomas gained valuable transferable skills that will benefit his future career endeavors.