In 2008 A&B launched its Young Professionals programme, which puts young business professionals onto the boards of arts organisations.
Celebrating The Arts & Business Young Professionals Programme are: mentor Mark Burns, Blue Water Financial Planning; Aidan Johnston, Associate Solicitor, Carson McDowell Solicitors and Aidan McLoone, Learning & Development Manager, Arts & Business.
The initiative is an extension of A&B’s successful Board Bank scheme and provides high flying young professionals with the opportunity to gain valuable and real-life board experience at an early stage of their careers. They are trained by experts and given access to an experienced mentor to ensure they get the most out of the opportunity.
At just 23 years-old, Aidan Johnston, Assistant Solicitor with Carson McDowell Solicitors Belfast has become the youngest person to take part in this scheme in Northern Ireland through his work with Bruiser Theatre Company.
Aidan Johnston, Carson McDowell said:
“A&B provided governance training and an experienced business mentor when I commenced the programme. I met with the CEO and Chair of Bruiser and was made to feel really welcome and initial results have been positive. It’s still early days but it’s a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to the personal challenge and helping Bruiser become even more successful.”
As part of the programme Arts & Business also provided the young professionals with an experienced business mentor for the first year on their respective boards and has also provided training in the legal and moral responsibilities of board membership.
At just 23 years-old, Aidan Johnston, Associate Solicitor with Carson McDowell Solicitors’ Belfast has become the youngest person to take part in this scheme in Northern Ireland through his work with Bruiser Theatre Company.
He said: “A&B provided governance training and an experienced business mentor when I commenced the programme. I have had quite a few meetings now with my assigned mentor Mark Burns, Director of Blue Water Financial Planning. We have shared our individual board experiences and he has been extremely supportive to me on a personal and professional level. I’m looking forward to helping Bruiser become even more successful and having a professional mentor like Mark is a great support mechanism for me especially in the early stages of board engagement.”
Founded in 1997, Belfast based Bruiser Theatre Company tours its work far and wide, reaching over 5,000 audience members a year as well as delivering an extensive education and outreach programme. Specialising in fast-moving, physical theatre, the Company is managed by an experienced Board with an impressive skills mix.
Stephen Beggs, Company Manager at Bruiser Theatre Company said:
“We are delighted that Aidan has joined our board scheme and his enthusiasm is clear to see. Being a board member of any organisation at such a young age is rare, but he has built up a lot of legal experience at Carson McDowell in the past three years and I’m sure this will prove to be invaluable to the board of Bruiser Theatre Company.”
Aidan McLoone, A&B programme manager who oversees the programme in Northern Ireland, added:
“Carson McDowell Solicitors have always been very supportive of our work in getting arts organisations and businesses to work closer together and this programme has been the perfect vehicle for A&B to engage with the younger talent within their management team.”
Building on the success of last years programme, A&B are now currently seeking eight new young professionals to join the boards of arts organisations that will benefit from their enthusiasm and talent in 2009-10. For further information on these initiatives please contact Aidan McLoone at A&B directly.