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1 nomination from readers

• The previous section highlights Eddie’s competence when working with our client group, but perhaps his ability as a very talented manager needs more emphasis. His initial post in this company required him to turn-around a struggling technical school that we run, which had suffered from poor leadership and low staff morale. Within one school year, he had achieved such good results that the local authority in which the school was based offered us a three-year renewable contract, thereby securing eight staff jobs and a very strong technical and vocational training facility for local youth.

  During this time, I enjoyed watching Eddie demonstrate to the young staff how to work through problems with young people and their families, build professional networks and get all people (staff and trainees) in this small school to enjoy being there. He also trained two talented young staff to manage the facility, such that, they are now in sole autonomous charge of the school, and doing great.

  I believe any social entrepreneur is measured by their ability to find resources to achieve their stated aims and also by how ingenious and creative they were in doing this. Also, a balance has to be struck; is the supply of resources earned proportional to what is actually needed? Eddie is really excellent at what could be described as our sector’s equivalent of ‘quantity surveying’ He knows exactly how much of anything is needed and asks for no more than enough to do the job well. This has created a tremendous trust and bond between him and the agencies who buy our services. They know their precious resources are being very well used; a particularly appreciated trait in these difficult times.

  The social entrepreneur has to be positive. On many occasions I have witnessed Eddie coaching and motivating a member of his team along the lines of, “Don’t complain about the problems. We are the problem solvers! That is what we have chosen to do! Come on, let’s plan our way out of this.” He exemplifies the social entrepreneur's creed and always serves it with a dollop of good humour.

  20 August 2009