Wayne Crowsley Visits College

It was an enlightening afternoon for a lucky group of college students last Friday, as local business pioneer Wayne Crowsley shared some key strategies and management skills in an informal discussion. After an introductory speech, Crowsley offered the students an open forum to ask him any questions about either his own career or business in general.

Among the topics discussed were the difficulties involved in attempting to start a business in such a volatile economic climate, with Crowsley agreeing that he would consider it difficult, though not impossible. He went on to say that he considers it vitally important that a business has outside investment, no matter its size, if it is to have any hope of future growth, as there is too much risk involved in a person spending their own money on a venture that could fail.

After one young student enquired as to his first involvement in any kind of business, Crowsley offered a humorous story about buying crisps and other snacks as a boy and then selling them at his school for a small profit. “As small an operation as it was,” he explained, “I learnt some of my first management skills on the playground, at least until the teachers told me to stop doing it. Wayne Crowsley didn’t have the most glamorous introduction to business.”

The kind of advice someone with business acumen of Wayne Crowsley can impart is invaluable to young people looking to make a start in the business world, a view expressed by Will Thomas, 18. “When you look at businessmen, Wayne is someone you want to be like. He’s taken the time to come and talk to us today and I think that kind of thing can really inspire you to work hard yourself, to try and end up where he is.”

Wayne Crowsley took part in the discussion as part of a new initiative to branch the generational gap by connecting young people to established businesspeople. He takes a keen interest in the local community and has donated a significant amount to local charities in recent years.