Work Experience: Day 10

05:00 Wake, Devotion, Work Out, Shower & Get Ready


06:00 Braid Hair


07:30 Breakfast


07:45 Social Networking


07:50 Leave House


08:45 Solicitors Firm


17:45 Leave


19:45 Social Networking, Diary


Work Experience Ends


Personal Thoughts

Work Experience: Day 9

10:00 Shower get dressed and get ready for work.


12:00 Played some Tekken 6


13:00 Left the house to accompany Dean Alexander to business meeting.


13:30 Met with Ellen Thomas (Eastenders actress) in Cardiff city center.


15:30 The meeting concluded, Mr. Alexander and I then returned to my house to pick up my mother.


16:00 left to go to Radio Cardiff, but first we went to McDonalds and got some dinner.


16:45 Arrived at Radio Cardiff, Mr Alexander went on the radio and later demonstrated to me how to DJ. He also interviewed Errol the Secretary to the Director of the "One Love Peace Festival"


19:00 End of working Day


Personal Thoughts

Work Experience: Day 8

09:00 Wake up, turn on radio, social networking

09:30 Work out shower and get ready

10:30 played PS3 games

11:30 Meet and greet Black International Film Festival Director Dean Alexander

13:00 Meet and greet Keisha Ann Smith from Television Jamaica 


17:00 Changed filming locations observing mother supporting Keisha in a production role


19:00 I returned home.


20:30 Had dinner and watched TV


Personal Thoughts

When I was talking and mostly listening to the people who were being interviewed, I noticed that many of them had some incredibly interesting thoughts about various life situations, experiences and their Jamaican ancestry. Many of the things that were said had crossed my mind in the past, which allowed me to relate to their points of view. At the same time I also learned, and considered many new possibilities from these people.

Work Experience: Day 7

09:00 Wake up, turn on radio, check e-mails, Facebook and twitter.

09:30 Work out, Shower, Breakfast, get ready.

10:00 Blog

11:00 Fill out business in focus booklets.

12:00 Find grants for business, research sustainable funding

Work Experience: Day 6

Coming Soon: Recording of Youth Beats show

Work Experience: Day 5

Today I researched information for my return to Radio Cardiff 'Youth Beats' show.  

I looked up various news topics of interest and compiled a couple of songs for a playlist.

I made sure to pack my bag with equipment I would need, i.e. Blank CD, Headphones, laptop and mp3 player.

I'm a little nervous about tomorrow but I'm sure I will be in good hands as there are some really nice volunteers in Radio Cardiff.  The plan is I will sit in with the other youth beats presenters and then have more of an input in during the second half we have a great competition planned complementary of Perri and Jordan from Diversity who have kindly given us 2 tickets to see them perform in Cardiff on the 31st March.

I last met up with Diversity at the MJ Tribute Concert in Wales they were really cool and their performance was off the chain.

Business in Focus Work experience of a young apprentice:Day 4

Work Experience: Day 3

5:00am Wake, Wash, Daily Devotion, turn on the radio


5:25am Social Networking, blog, typed up notes from B.I.F - How to Market Your Business


6:25am Tidy up


6:45am Prepare clothes


7:00am Shower and get ready


7:30 Breakfast


8:00am Prototype


12:00 Leave for Radio Cardiff


13:00 arrive at business in focus.


15:30 Make my way home


18:10 Go out and socialize


21:00 Return home


22:30 Fall to sleep


Notes


Module five- How to price your product


Aims
-Explains your drawings, personal survival budget and how to calculate it.


-Identifies the different types of business cost.


-Explains depreciation and how to calculate it.


-Explains how to cost a service product.


-Provides an overview of pricing and explains different methods of pricing.


-Explains breaking-even


Personal thoughts


Costing is more complex than I had first anticipated but it isn't all that difficult to do. Also Tax can be very nice if you can use it to your advantage effectively.


As the first £8000 you take for personal use from your business would be tax free, I thought it would be a great idea to use all the other money you make from your business for expansion to help your businesses profits skyrocket. 

Work Experience: Day 2

07:00 Wake, work out, shower


07:40 Check e-mails, update Twitter and Facebook(social networking)


08:00 Breakfast


08:10 Prototype


08:50 Left home to take mum to hospital


13:00 Left hospital and returned to the business in focus course.


15:30 Networked


16:30 Market research


17:15 Returned home and ended my working day there.


17:30 Dinner


17:45 Walk the dogs


18:00 socialized


21:00 Played on my PSP


22:00 Went to bed


Notes


Module two- How to research your market


Aims of module two
-Provide an introduction to the marketing process
-Outline the key information you need to know about your customers
-Describe how to determine market size, and identify trends in market
-Outlines the key information you need to know about your competitors
-Describe how to research your market using primary and secondary research methods


This module goes into great detail about how one should research their market. The market is defined as both your customer and (direct) competitors. Direct competitors are those who will be selling the same kind of thing you are, it is also mentioned that sometimes competitors can be good for business.


Personal thoughts


I believe this modules significance is in knowing how to find the people you are trying to sell to and how to sell to them in particular, as they say you can make some of the people happy all of the time all of the people happy some of the time but you can't keep everyone happy all the time. This bears relevance to your market just knowing that sometimes it will be literally impossible to sell something to someone.




Module three


Aims of module three
-Provides an overview of marketing strategy
-Explains the concept of the four marketing P's
-Determines how to set SMART objectives
-Describes how to develop a product strategy
-Outlines how to set a price
-Explains how to set a promotional plan
-Explains the selling process
-Consider the importance of customer care for your business


Personal thoughts


The significance of customer care and repeat business amazed me, as it will be 15x more expensive for your business to find replacement customers than it will for your business to get repeat business. Another thing that interested me about customer satisfaction wasthe way that another customer could also help advertise the good "stuff" that your business provides. This could then lead to further good advertising. Also if your not careful it could turn customers away if you create a bad rapport.


If not for anything else I'd recommend  joining this course and consistently going simply because of the free drinks and biscuits.

Work Experience: Day 1

05:00am - Wake, work out, shower whilst listening to radio


06:00am - Breakfast


06:20am - Walk Dogs


06:40am - Check Daily News in papers


07:00am - Social networking


07:20am - Check emails


07:40am - Get Ready


08:00am - Leave Home


09:00am - Business In focus - How to Start a Business


12:30pm - Walk by the Bay


13:30pm - Met up with my cousin a university lecturer


14:00pm - Late Lunch


15:00pm - Travel Home


16:00pm - Type up Notes


18:00pm - Social Networking


18:20pm - Prepare work clothes


18:40pm - Finish


Notes


HOW TO START YOUR BUSINESS 


Aims:- To discuss and explore some of the key issues in relation to self employment.


To provide an overview of these issues including: 

• Personal skills
• Network support
• Source of finance
• Legal aspects
• Business planning

WHO ARE BUSINESS IN FOCUS

Business in focus are a support company dedicated to helping businesses to start and grow.

EXPERTISE

• Mobile Business Advisors
• Senior Management experience
• Some advisors actually run their own businesses

B.I.F was formed in 1983 part funded by the Welsh government and most services are at no cost.

STATISTICS 

Independent research shows that support from enterprise agencies increases growth for businesses from 157% (unsupported) to 260% (supported). 


93% of businesses fail at the start of trading, 80% of the above is due to lack of planning 7% will survive without intervention.


Personal thoughts 

So the key here is to plan, plan, plan!

After today I learned that the younger you are when you start your own business the better it is for you, there are more grants available and more support.

There were a few people who I met (networked) with today, with some good business ideas however there was a student/graduate couple who stood out to me, and I think they will make the most money out of the whole room.  They are starting their own film production company and have just graduated from university.  The trainer/advisor looked quite interested in supporting them too, not that he wasn't interested in anyone else but I noticed a glimmer in his eye when talking to this couple, I think I saw dollar signs going off in his pupils. 

It was nice to know some of the worlds richest people started off small with nothing or little and made it big like Alan Sugar, Richard Branson and Anita Ruddock.  I also learned that currently the worlds richest person is the IKEA man Inkvar Kamprad.

Christopher Nation Curriculum Vitae (Resume)

                                                                           Profile

I am an analytical individual who welcomes the free exchange of philosophical and scientific ideas.  I have the attributes of a leader, understand the necessity of following direction, have great organisational skills, meet deadlines and am punctual. Further profile information available here:
http://diaryofayoungcarer.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/christopher-nation.html

NAME: Christopher-John Charles II Nation                         D.O.B: 16/05/97

ADDRESS: (Available upon request)                                 WORK TELEPHONE: 07982639676

EMAIL: gogeeta10@hotmail.co.uk (PLEASE COPY IN PARENT GUARDIAN)

PARENT GUARDIAN: annikanation-reid@sky.com

Education

St Mary's Primary School

• Featured in a BBC Children's Maths Programme  
• Moved from year 5 to year 6

Holy Family 

• Became the Vice Chair of the School Council. 
• Offered a place at the Bishop of Llandaff high school following top marks in his SAT examinations and a glowing reference.
• Passed entrance examinations to the Cathedral School 
• Passed entrance exams to Kings Monkton School 
• Offered a fully funded placement at the Cathedral School 
• Offered a part scholarship at Kings Monkton School 

Cathedral School

• Became an active member of the Chess Team, Drama Club and Rugby team.  
• Average of grades upon leaving school above the 90% marker.

Subjects studied: Biology, Chemistry, English Language, English Literature, French, History, Information Technology, Latin, Mathematics, PHSE, Physical Education, Physics, Religious Education and Spanish.

Reason for leaving: Following a family tragedy I became a young carer to my disabled mother and the school were unable to offer support to facilitate both mine and my Mum's special needs.  I regrettably had to move schools.

Cantonian Highschool

• Entered in a year earlier to take GCSE Psychology examinations
• Entered in a year earlier to take GCSE Mathematics examinations 

Subjects:

Cantonian HighSchool GCSE predicted grades:

English                                                                     A
Maths                                                                       A
Science                                                                    B
Business Studies                                                      Distinction
I.C.T                                                                         Pass
Law                                                                          C
Psychology                                                               B
Welsh                                                                       C

Voluntary Work

Radio Cardiff 

I began volunteering with Radio Cardiff at the age of 10 on the Saturday morning Youth Beats Show.  I'm now developing a project for carers week with Radio Cardiff Young Carers which fuses entertainment news with disabled issues and carer awareness. For more info visit:  http://www.youngcarersshow.blogspot.com 


Birmingham Black International Film Festival 


I've been mentored since the age of 6 by the Director of the BIFF Mr Dean Alexander.  I recently secured an important role as a Social Networking Assistant where my duties include researching historical moments in Black Film and Music history, and keeping twitter followers and facebook friends informed of new developments with regard to the up and coming festival dates.


Live Magazine (London)


I'll be writing articles based around my life in Cardiff and at the radio station where I work.


Work Experience


Business: Business in Focus Cardiff Bay attended "How to Start Your Business", "How to Research Your Market", "How to Manage Your Business", "How to Price Your Product"and "How to Manage Your Finances"

Law: Hilary Brown-:> The Vale of Glamorgan law firm I worked with community activist and solicitor Mrs Brown famous for her support of http://www.independent.co.uk/news/officer-charged-with-neglect-over-racist-beating-1123180.html

Media: To date -:>  attended the 2010 MOBO Launch Party, 2011 Michael Jackson Tribute Concert Press and Media room backstage, interviewed "Dedicated to my Ex" chart topper Lloyd and 2009 Britains Got Talent winners Perri and Jordan from Diversity 

Additional Information

"Since becoming a young carer I have learned how to cope under pressure.  Practice patience and be charitable. Be empathetic and sympathetic, adapt to situations out of my comfort zone, meet and greet people from all walks of life.  I am a member of "Crossroads Care for Young Carer's" and the "YMCA Young Carer's Project" in Cardiff.  I enjoy my time with other young carer's as I feel more relaxed around people who can understand my home commitments."

Hobbies/Interests

In my spare time I enjoy: 

• Attending the "Sylvia Young Theatre School" in London
• Warhammer World of War Craft model making
• Reading Anime Books
• Listening to a variety of musical genre
• Spending time with my brother

*References

John Lenny Jnr MBE                                                                                          
Director
Radio Cardiff

Mrs Spargo

Head Teacher
Cantonian Highschool

Mr Morris
Head Teacher
The Cathedral School

Mrs Patricia Earle-Andrews
Former Primary School Teacher
EMAS (Ethnic Minority Achievement Services)

*Due to data protection act 1998 certain information cannot be disclosed via this site, should you require further information or contact details please telephone or email my parent guardian Annika Nation-Reid on 07982639676 or email annikanation-reid@sky.com

SCHOOL REPORTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Saturday 3rd March 2012

Had a a crazy month so far my Mum went into hospital because she unwell, really hard for her to manage her Fibromyalgia at times with all the stress of having changes in her care plan through Social Services.  I know they're trying to help and she tries her best but I really miss what life was like for us before she became disabled, they are going to make some referrals to organisations who support young carer's.

Before she was rushed into hospital we got to meet and interview R & B U.S star Lloyd  released a song called "Dedicated to my ex" he was really cool.  His Mum also has Fibromyalgia so I think he understood what my Mum has to go through, and what it's like to be a young carer.

I had a few mock exams in Psychology, Law and Welsh.  I really don't like learning Welsh don't get it at all??? I can understand most other languages like; French, Italian and Spanish because they all derive from Latin but where the heck does Welsh come from?  No offence but it just sounds like gobble and spit, only 0.1% of the World speak it, so where else will I actually use this language but in Wales and a small country in Argentina?

To cheer me up My Mum arranged for my co-host Becki and I to go and watch Labrinth perform at Cardiff Student Union in the Solus.  He sang "Earthquake", "Sunshine" and "Neva Soft". 

Next month I will be having work experience with Mr Dean Alexander from the "Black International Film Festival" in Birmingham, he has his own business, DJ's and has a breakfast show.  It will be good for me to learn how to film and DJ too, so looking forward to that.

Can't wait for the Easter Holidays though because I'll get to spend time with my Dad and brother.  I will also be going to the "Sylvia Young Theatre School" that should be cool as long as they don't ask me to sing????


Havn't been tweeting that much on Twitter not really sure how it exactly works but I give it a go, my Mum said it's just like texting a friend.  I need more followers though so be sure to follow me www.twitter.com/cjs_nation.  I met another young carer called Victoria Cares she has a really cool website www.victoriacares.org.uk check it out.