Founder's Letter

Liz Brewer, Fred Finn, Stephen James, Emily Prescott, Lord Ranger CBE, Christopher Jackson , Dame Mary Richardson, Sir Anthony Seldon, Elizabeth Diaferia, Ty Goddard, Neil Carmichael

Ronel Lehmann (Founder & CEO), Colin Derek Walker, Professor Robert Campbell

Andrew Inman, Chloe Garland, Alejandra Arteta, ngelina Giovani, Christopher Clark, Robin Rose, Sophia Petrides, Dana James-Edwards, Elizabeth Marmur, Iain Smith, Jeremy Cordrey, Martin Israel, Iandra Tchoudnowsky, Tim Levy, Peter Ibbetson, Claire Orlic, Judith Cocking, Sandra Hermitage, Isla Baliszewska, Claire Ashley, Dr Richard Davis, Sir David Lidington, Coco Stevenson, Angelina Giovani

Business Development: Rara Plumptre

Public Relations:

Pedroza Communications

Advertisement Director: James Ferrin

Advertisement Sales: Virtual Campaign Management

Creative Director: Andrew Charalambous

Designer: Jonathan Stewart

Photography:

Sam Pearce

Print Production: Tim Solway

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Printlogic incorporating Solways Printers, Kent, DA17 6AH

Website Development:

Wordsmith Digital

Registered Address: Finito Education Limited, 7/10 Chandos Street, London, United Kingdom W1G 9DQ

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You know that brief moment before the shutter of your camera captures the orangutan in the shot? Well it was a bit like that making a call to another primate, Sir David Attenborough, not the King of the jungle in far off land, but closer to home, in his wild natural habitat of Richmond, London.

The last time we worked together was in 1992 when I acted for David Laing and Ronald Harris in their bid to build a world class aquarium at London Zoo. Being still an affable sort of junior primate even today, I thought it best to send a telegram to him explaining the purpose, before telephoning. It did seem a little ironic to be transmitting my request during the pandemic the day after the news broke that our zoos were once again allowed to re-open.

A week had passed, and I decided to place the receiver next to my ear. It had just passed 2.00pm on a Friday and I thought that it was a good time, just after lunch and before a nap. I thought for a moment of his Wyggeston Grammar School Leicester classmate, Gordon Taylor, my father-inlaw who sadly died in March, and the many tales he regaled from their youth.

Sir David answered immediately, no Executive Assistant. He mentioned that it was only 48 hours after emerging from self-isolation and lockdown and that he regularly receives 40 to 50 items of correspondence a day. It was a brusque yet professional exchange, a quick moment for reminiscences and yet with purpose. He left an impression of being on top of his game, not suffering fools and perhaps preserving the strength of his dulcet tones for the next film excerpt.

He was happy to speak to readers of our magazine as his mission to save us encompasses early years to pupils, schools, colleges, universities, business, politics and nation states. The power of his voice never leaves us, and the discoveries and lessons reverberated long after our conversation ended.

I cannot express my gratitude more sincerely to Sir David, who has almost single-handedly changed the way we look at and appreciate our planet, teaches and inspires a generation of followers, and legions of youths, who are as much at home with him, as they are with the latest rock band, believing that our climate can be saved from destruction.

The second edition of Finito World tackles another legend, Bill Gates, and the search for a pandemic cure. If contacting Sir David was a challenge, I will not regale you with the full tale about engaging with another incredible force for good.

We pay tribute to Ian Taylor, a titan of business at Vitol, and chair of the Royal Opera House. Taylor famously rescued Harris Tweed from bankruptcy, and was also known for his incredible philanthropy and charitable support. He was an inspiration and from the recollections expressed by former Prime Ministers and other business leaders, it was an honour to have known him.

The professionalism demonstrated by our business mentors has been a source of considerable encouragement to all our students and career change mentoring candidates. I praise them for their fortitude when it has most been needed and for contributing to this publication.

There is currently a lot of anxiety for students, their parents and prospective employers. We are about to see the end of the furlough scheme, and people’s patience in some cases has already been tested to the limit, and will likely be tested further as we lurch towards winter.

However, there are also incredible stories of young people demonstrably overcoming adversity. We focus our optimism on encouraging success through the lens of those who began with nothing and achieved greatness. I hope you will enjoy reading this issue as much as we enjoyed preparing it during lockdown. Once you have completed reading, I hope you will get in touch and share your own stories. Our many loyal readers would like that.