My name is Tony Daly and I’m a member of the WCEC Education Committee.
I have been a School Govenor for many years and have found it to be one of the most rewarding volunteering roles I have undertaken. I was originally recruited as a Governor for my business expertise in Finance, HR and H&S and felt very comfortable with this level of time commitment whilst still working full time.
It enhanced my personal and professional career by giving something back to the community I work and live in. I also learned so much from volunteering in this role, which I feel made me a better employer by improving many areas in my personal skill base such as my communication and listening skills.
After retiring I significantly increased my volunteering in this sector, by becoming a Local Authority School Governor and working in some of the most deprived areas in Greater Manchester and several other Local Authority School Committees, including the Schools Finance Forum which oversees the local authority entire schools’ budget of over £600 million.
I regularly conduct talks and mentoring in schools, by talking about my varied career in the cleaning industry and the skills I gained in all areas of business. Even after retirement, I use these skills in my various volunteering roles including being a Magistrate. I know I have inspired young people to look at our industry as a serious career option.
I would encourage all WCEC members to consider a School Governor role. I appreciate that many people have a busy lifestyle, however the pandemic has ironically made attendance at meetings easier, as many meetings are now conducted via Zoom. Many schools going forward are continuing with this trend by conducting half of their meetings online.
I’m happy to talk to anyone who would like more information about what the role involves.
Best regards,
Tony Daly
