September 1st - 5th, London UK A truly inspirational week making the most of our spectacular new offices in London, Public Relations agency to the Government Lewis PR, inspirational ex international athlete Derek Browne, recruitment agency Propel, and over 30 Salesforce.com presenters and mentors.

'Simply Thank You. I enjoyed my whole experience and am so glad I went through the process to get here. Thanks again. I've learned things you can't really Derek Brownelearn without people taking time to break it down' said Lucy Verlander. Lucy was one of our 12 students who came through the interviews organised by Landmark Training to get on the course.  Landmark Training is an East London based Non Profit that work with young people lacking educational qualifications, and help them get started in the world of work. 

The aim of the week was to help the students learn how to sell themselves, by organising them into teams playing the part of a youth employment agency, encouraging employers to take on their young people. The programme was based in Tower 42, the central London office of Salesforce.com and the 3rd tallest building in the UK. 

The students were taken through all aspects of the Sales cycle. From teamwork, branding, why people buy, handling objections, marketing and then onto preparing and presenting their pitches. A particular highlight was guest speaker Derek Browne who told us of his inspirational journey from school drop out to becoming the first ever black trader at Barings Bank - via the Bank of England, and combining this with a career as an England International Triple Jumper! We also had the treat of a morning spent at Lewis PR. As well as a fabulous lecture by Will Sturgeon on the do's and dont's of presenting, the students then had a chance to practice what they had learnt from the very stage in the 200 Lewis PRseat auditorioum where countless Labour Politicians have presented their policy in the past. It was fabulous to see how the terrified students put their inhibitions behind them and by tHe end we had to drag them away.

Of the Salesforce employees who took part, simply too many to mention. From those that led te presentations, to the mentors who gave up an entire day each to sit with the students, help them through their role plays, and play the roles of the presentees - YOU WERE ALL FABULOUS - and we couldnt have done it without you. 

THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYBODY. Lee picking up his prize from Julia