Speaker for Tuesday 10th December 2013 - Mrs Gwyneth McQuiston
12/12/13 12:46
Photo: Vice President Gordon Ward greets Mrs. Gwyneth McQuiston, with club members John Dobson and Mike Turner (L) with John Ludlow and Des Johnston (R)
Talk by Mrs. Gwyneth McQuiston on 'The University of Life'
Club Vice President Gordon Ward took the chair and welcomed members to the meeting. He went on to introduce our speaker for the morning Mrs. Gwyneth McQuiston, the manager of the Diamond Centre in Coleraine who gave an interesting talk on her career (so far) under the title of 'The University of Life'. Mrs McQuiston started her career as a Secretary in Cogan and Shackleton in Coleraine before becoming a stay at home mum for 9 years. After a period as a Part Time and then a Full Time Reservist she took up employment as a PA to the Vice President of Seagate in Limavady. When the VP retired she became the Business Development Manager at the Radisson Roe Park Hotel. 11 years ago she became the Shopping Centre Manager at the Diamond Centre in Coleraine, a job in which she is very happy but one in which she faces difficult challenges.
Gwyneth began her interesting and highly enjoyable talk with a short story about why she had chosen the 'University of life' title (as she didn't have any formal university qualifications, just a lot a practical life experience) followed by a brief run through some career highlights to date. These included the rather scary 'Eagle Hop' training when in the Police Service and the official opening problems of the new Seagate factory in Limavady (which coincided with the signing of the 'Good Friday Agreement'). Her current position came almost as a surprise, and she had applied because she was a self-confessed 'shopaholic' and thought being the manager of a shopping centre would be just great. She soon realised that the job was great, but for very different reasons than 'going to shops'.
The Diamond Centre is one of 34 shopping centres in Northern Ireland and opened in 2002. The first thing Gwyneth realised was that there were no formal rules and regulations for centre users. These she established and has been followed ever since.
In 2007 the 'Footfall' (shoppers coming into the centre) was around 3.5million. For 2013 Gwyneth hopes it will reach 2million, such is the downturn in the economy, and is want makes the job so challenging. So, just what does the manager of the Diamond Centre do? Customer relations is very important, and getting to know the people that come through the doors, especially the 'regulars' that may not be shopping - 'the five wise men'. Health and Safety take up a big part of work time and concern - cleaning and accidents (which do happen, especially with the escalators and people not paying attention to them). Legal tenants, all store manages should know the H and S rules (but may not!). Then there's Government legislation, and the trial of trying to keep up to date with that is a bigger problem. As manager Gwyneth has to deal with many different suppliers and contractors just to keep the centre open. Events marketing and PR are another area, and vitally important with the economy declining. There has to be a strong connection between the centre and their 'Partners' - these being the Police, Borough Council, local schools, the youth justice department (DOJ) and other traders in the town. On top of all this, Gwyneth also needs to know how at he equipment and facilities within the centre works, AND attend regular (and many diverse) meetings.
Gwyneth concluded with a few words on the centre now being in 'receivership'. This didn't mean that it was suddenly going to close. The tenants have legal rights to remain open and the receivers need to show that it is a fully functioning and vibrant shopping centre, in order to sell the whole operation.
And finally, was this her 'Dream Job'? It is certainly one she enjoys and doesn't want to change yet, BUT she hopes that at some stage she will be manager of a elderly peoples home (or a group of homes) as she strongly believes can be made a lot better places to live for the residents - and everyone at the meeting just knew she would be great at that job too!
Gwyneth's final thoughts were a simple message. She believes that 'Kindness and laughter are the best medicine for a good life'.
The talk was followed by a short Question and Answer session, from which we learnt more about what was involved in an 'Eagle Hop' - checking vehicle and driver documents by getting in and out of a helicopter, which flies with it's door open! How 'Footfall' is counted - by a light beam by the doors. If re-designing the centre, would you have more small units? - surprisingly, no, we need larger units - some companies have not taken space because there wasn't large enough units available.
A vote of thanks was proposed by John Ludlow who said that he will now be especially careful with the escalators and how much he had enjoyed Gwyneth's fluent, interesting and entertaining talk. The thanks were passed on by the Vice President. The members showed their appreciation.
Talk by Mrs. Gwyneth McQuiston on 'The University of Life'
Club Vice President Gordon Ward took the chair and welcomed members to the meeting. He went on to introduce our speaker for the morning Mrs. Gwyneth McQuiston, the manager of the Diamond Centre in Coleraine who gave an interesting talk on her career (so far) under the title of 'The University of Life'. Mrs McQuiston started her career as a Secretary in Cogan and Shackleton in Coleraine before becoming a stay at home mum for 9 years. After a period as a Part Time and then a Full Time Reservist she took up employment as a PA to the Vice President of Seagate in Limavady. When the VP retired she became the Business Development Manager at the Radisson Roe Park Hotel. 11 years ago she became the Shopping Centre Manager at the Diamond Centre in Coleraine, a job in which she is very happy but one in which she faces difficult challenges.
Gwyneth began her interesting and highly enjoyable talk with a short story about why she had chosen the 'University of life' title (as she didn't have any formal university qualifications, just a lot a practical life experience) followed by a brief run through some career highlights to date. These included the rather scary 'Eagle Hop' training when in the Police Service and the official opening problems of the new Seagate factory in Limavady (which coincided with the signing of the 'Good Friday Agreement'). Her current position came almost as a surprise, and she had applied because she was a self-confessed 'shopaholic' and thought being the manager of a shopping centre would be just great. She soon realised that the job was great, but for very different reasons than 'going to shops'.
The Diamond Centre is one of 34 shopping centres in Northern Ireland and opened in 2002. The first thing Gwyneth realised was that there were no formal rules and regulations for centre users. These she established and has been followed ever since.
In 2007 the 'Footfall' (shoppers coming into the centre) was around 3.5million. For 2013 Gwyneth hopes it will reach 2million, such is the downturn in the economy, and is want makes the job so challenging. So, just what does the manager of the Diamond Centre do? Customer relations is very important, and getting to know the people that come through the doors, especially the 'regulars' that may not be shopping - 'the five wise men'. Health and Safety take up a big part of work time and concern - cleaning and accidents (which do happen, especially with the escalators and people not paying attention to them). Legal tenants, all store manages should know the H and S rules (but may not!). Then there's Government legislation, and the trial of trying to keep up to date with that is a bigger problem. As manager Gwyneth has to deal with many different suppliers and contractors just to keep the centre open. Events marketing and PR are another area, and vitally important with the economy declining. There has to be a strong connection between the centre and their 'Partners' - these being the Police, Borough Council, local schools, the youth justice department (DOJ) and other traders in the town. On top of all this, Gwyneth also needs to know how at he equipment and facilities within the centre works, AND attend regular (and many diverse) meetings.
Gwyneth concluded with a few words on the centre now being in 'receivership'. This didn't mean that it was suddenly going to close. The tenants have legal rights to remain open and the receivers need to show that it is a fully functioning and vibrant shopping centre, in order to sell the whole operation.
And finally, was this her 'Dream Job'? It is certainly one she enjoys and doesn't want to change yet, BUT she hopes that at some stage she will be manager of a elderly peoples home (or a group of homes) as she strongly believes can be made a lot better places to live for the residents - and everyone at the meeting just knew she would be great at that job too!
Gwyneth's final thoughts were a simple message. She believes that 'Kindness and laughter are the best medicine for a good life'.
The talk was followed by a short Question and Answer session, from which we learnt more about what was involved in an 'Eagle Hop' - checking vehicle and driver documents by getting in and out of a helicopter, which flies with it's door open! How 'Footfall' is counted - by a light beam by the doors. If re-designing the centre, would you have more small units? - surprisingly, no, we need larger units - some companies have not taken space because there wasn't large enough units available.
A vote of thanks was proposed by John Ludlow who said that he will now be especially careful with the escalators and how much he had enjoyed Gwyneth's fluent, interesting and entertaining talk. The thanks were passed on by the Vice President. The members showed their appreciation.
(Secretary, Mike Turner)
For further information, visit - http://www.diamondcentrecoleraine.co.uk