Crowne Plaza Leeds Takes the Classroom Into the Boardroom

DENHAM, England, April 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Local Hotel Needs Schools to Take Part

Crowne Plaza Leeds has launched a new pilot scheme to get local school children into the boardroom for a head start in business.

The hotel is offering schools in local areas free meeting rooms to hold classroom meetings where children will take part in kid-friendly presentations in front of classmates with 'Apprentice' style tips from hotel expert Matt Byram.

Matt Byram General Manager of Crowne Plaza Leeds said: "Getting kids into the boardroom may seem like an unusual idea, but we believe that the confidence they'll gain from being in a boardroom environment will provide great life skills for the future.

"As part of our ongoing community relations project, we are really excited to offer the dedicated meetings rooms in our conference facility and the advice of our meetings and events team to our local schools and pupils."

Crowne Plaza has teamed up with senior lecturer in psychology, Dr. David Holmes at Manchester Metropolitan University to highlight the need for children to begin thinking about and training for business and business meetings from a young age.

Dr David A Holmes said: "An innovative scheme like this will have far reaching benefits for the children participating. Not only will the children gain immediate skills in learning the manner, formalities and process of meetings, but they will gain longer-lasting abilities, which will form the building blocks for more successful academic and occupational careers.  

"They will gain presentation skills and the ability to interact successfully with adults as well as those in senior positions. These abilities will not only lay the foundation for success in future job interviews or presentations at school but will nurture the ability to be competent at social networking or at formal events.  Beyond these specific outcomes, participating children are almost certain to gain a level of social and personal confidence which will enhance their lives in many areas beyond the boardroom.

"The earlier such skills and confidence are gained in life, the greater the positive knock-on effect will be in forming the building-blocks of leadership and outstanding success in many avenues.  Formal meeting skills are about engaging and bonding people in common purpose or constructive argument, which is far removed from the negative effects of computer games in the bedroom or hours wasted hanging out on street corners."

As part of the initiative, Crowne Plaza Leeds is opening the doors to their meeting and conference rooms to local school children between the ages of 10 and 14. The training day will include presentation skills training from local businesses and members of the meeting and events team at Crowne Plaza.

To take part in the new pilot scheme Crowne Plaza is inviting local schools in Leeds to nominate the Alan Sugars, Deborah Meadens or Peter Jones of the future, aged between 10 and 14, who have expressed an interest in business and would benefit from learning key presentation skills.

The conference centre at Crowne Plaza Leeds offers 7 meeting rooms and the Roundhay Suite - a large event space which can host up to 200 delegates. To find the latest offers on meetings visit http://www.cpleedshotel.co.uk/classroom0413.

Schools wishing to participate can nominate themselves by emailing:  hiteam@webershandwick.co.uk

For further information, interview or image requests please contact the Crowne Plaza PR team at Weber Shandwick on +44(0)161-238-9400 or email hiteam@webershandwick.co.uk.