Work experience at RiskSTOP Group: supporting the next generation

This year, two young people have had the chance to spend time with RiskSTOP Group on work experience – Poppy, 14, and Zoe, 15. From finance to surveys, admin to marketing, both explored a wide variety of departments and gained a real insight into the world of work.

Earlier in the year, Poppy joined us for a placement and shared her thanks to everyone who supported her. Her experience gave her valuable exposure to the many different roles across RiskSTOP.

As Managing Director, Danny Lillington summed up, “Supporting young people through work experience is such an important way to help them gain valuable insights and prepare for the future. It really shows the commitment we have to nurturing the next generation.”

More recently, Zoe joined us for her placement and as part of her time here, she recorded a special episode of our People at the Heart podcast, sharing her passion for films in a light-hearted conversation with host, Jo Camp. This podcast gave Zoe a chance to learn about content creation and the “People” side of RiskSTOP Group.

Reflecting on her placement, Zoe said, “I really enjoyed doing work experience and learning about everyone’s different jobs. I have never been in an office before but I actually felt really relaxed. As I am autistic I wasn’t sure how being in the office would be for me but everyone was so lovely and gave me lots of information. I learned a lot about the company, thanks for having me!”

George Chamberlain, Zoe's mum and Team Leader at RiskSTOP, added, “Bringing Zoe to work so that she could do some work experience has been so great for her. At the age of 15, Zoe is trying to navigate what her future career might look like and this has given her a great insight into both our industry and our lovely office environment. As a very forward-thinking and inclusive company, the support RiskSTOP Group provide for neurodiverse colleagues is fantastic and being autistic, it has been great for Zoe to experience this first-hand.”

Both Zoe and Poppy’s experiences highlight the value of work experience - helping young people gain confidence and direction.

🎧 Listen to Zoe’s full People at the Heart episode below. Transcript also available.

Transcript

Jo Camp  00:13

Hi, everyone. I'm Jo Camp and welcome to another episode of People at the Heart. The podcast where we dive into serious and light-hearted conversations with our team here at RiskSTOP Group. Now, we usually chat about a mix of things, some serious, some not so serious, but today we're going full fun mode. Why? Because we're joined by a very special guest who's currently with us on work experience, Zoe. And here's the exciting bit, I've been reliably informed that Zoe has a serious love for movies. We're talking big screen, small screen, probably quoting lines from memory, and I, for one, am very ready to dive into an old film chat. So whether you're a fan of fantasy epics, romantic comedies or slight obscure 90s thrillers, stick around this one's for the film lovers. So Zoe, welcome to the podcast. Before we get to the movies, tell us a bit about yourself and what brings you to RiskSTOP on work experience.

Zoe Chamberlain  01:04

So my name is Zoe. Well, yeah. Um, I'm 15 years old, and I'm on work experience here because my mum works here. She's worked here for ages.

Jo Camp  01:17

Yeah, part of the furniture I think!

Zoe Chamberlain  01:20

Yeah!

Jo Camp  01:21

Exciting. Well, it's great to have you here. So let's get into the important stuff. When did your love of film start?

Zoe Chamberlain  01:30

Um, probably when I was, quite a bit younger, maybe. Well, I don't know whenever How To Train A Dragon came out. Cos I was obsessed with that one, like all of them.

Jo Camp  01:43

So, do you like to go to the cinema to watch movies?

Zoe Chamberlain  01:47

Sometimes, kind of depends how big the theatre is and if there's going to be many people in there, yeah.

Jo Camp  01:54

So when you go to the cinema, what's your favourite snack to take to the cinema?

Zoe Chamberlain  01:58

Um, I do like, sometimes, when they have the hot dogs, I think they're great.

Jo Camp  02:03

Do you have the mustard as well?

Zoe Chamberlain  02:06

Oh, I just have the ketchup.

Jo Camp  02:08

Yeah, no, I'm not mad keen on that either. Okay, so we're at home, Movie Night. What's your favourite setup then?

Zoe Chamberlain  02:18

Ah, kind of just like sat on the sofa...

Jo Camp  02:23

Popcorn, chocolate?

Zoe Chamberlain  02:25

Ah maybe some sweets, maybe a drink, you know.

Jo Camp  02:31

So I've been informed that you've watched an incredible amount of movies already this year.

Zoe Chamberlain  02:36

Yeah, I've watched 110 roughly this year, from January 1.

Jo Camp  02:42

Yeah?

Zoe Chamberlain  02:43

So quite a lot, just a couple!

Jo Camp  02:45

And what's your favourite sort of genre of movies?

Zoe Chamberlain  02:50

Probably I'd say horror, because it's like...

Jo Camp  02:53

Doesn't surprise me. I've spoken to your mum a few times and I know that there is a bit of a horror theme there.

Zoe Chamberlain  02:58

Yeah!

Jo Camp  03:00

So we're talking full on spooky, hide behind the pillow horror?

Zoe Chamberlain  03:04

Yeah, pretty much, yeah.

Jo Camp  03:05

Do you like it the jumpy bit, or is it the bit of gory?

Zoe Chamberlain  03:09

Uh, I think, I don't really like when they jump out at you, that's a little bit - it's frightening, but not in a way that's going to keep me up at night. But if it's - it kind of just depends. I think it's creepy if it's more realistic, you know. So I try not to go for movies where it's like an evil horde of zombies.

Zoe Chamberlain  03:29

Yeah.

Jo Camp  03:31

So do you like just current movies or old movies?

Zoe Chamberlain  03:34

I think I prefer older ones. Kind of like anywhere from, maybe 60s to 90s - stuff like that.

Jo Camp  03:45

Yeah. So what's your favourite? What's your most favourite movie?

Zoe Chamberlain  03:49

I do really like Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof. Have you seen that?

Jo Camp  03:54

No, I haven't heard of that one!

Zoe Chamberlain  03:57

It's about this guy and he used to be a stunt man for movies and stuff and he's got this car, Stunt Car, and it's Death Proof, pretty much, and he gets in this car accident on purpose with this group of girls. He's in the hospital. When he gets out, he tries it again. But the girls he's trying it with, they're not gonna go down that easy, you know.

Jo Camp  04:18

So how many times do you think you've watched that movie?

Zoe Chamberlain  04:21

Maybe a couple times. I've got it on DVD. I got it on DVD for my birthday.

Jo Camp  04:26

So would you watch - because I know I do this, for my mood. If I'm feeling sad or happy and everything else, I will pick a movie depending on how I feel. If I want to be made feel happier: comedy, or if I've watched a scary movie, I generally have to watch a comedy movie straight afterwards because I won't get to sleep. So have you got movies that you go to for how you feel?

Zoe Chamberlain  04:48

Sometimes. It's kind of more like, for me, if I'm in a certain mood, like if I'm quite happy that day, I'm not going to watch something that's going to depress me.

Jo Camp  04:58

No, no one needs that.

Zoe Chamberlain  05:00

Yeah!

Jo Camp  05:02

So what's your favourite comedy? Do you watch much comedy movies?

Zoe Chamberlain  05:05

I don't really watch many comedy movies, but I know which one I like. I don't know if it counts as a comedy, but I did quite like Jawbreaker.

Jo Camp  05:13

I don't think I've seen that one either!

Zoe Chamberlain  05:17

It's this girl's birthday and her friends, like on her birthdays, they always like, surprise each other, and it's her birthday, so they pretended to be kidnappers and put a jawbreaker in her mouth, put her in the back of their car. But when they got to like, the breakfast place, she'd died. She choked on the...

Jo Camp  05:39

This is a comedy?!

Zoe Chamberlain  05:40

Well, it's got funny bits in it. I'm not sure I'd directly label it a comedy. That's just the first thing that came to mind. It's been a while since I watched it. Um, so, yeah, so it's quite like camp, I'd say yeah.

Jo Camp  06:01

So what's that one called?

Zoe Chamberlain  06:02

Jawbreaker

Jo Camp  06:03

Jawbreaker? I might have to watch that one.

Jo Camp  06:07

So have you got a film that you love to watch, that you feel like nobody talks about enough?

Zoe Chamberlain  06:15

I feel like everyone knows, like Ginger Snaps, but I feel like a lot of people don't talk about the second one in a trilogy.

Jo Camp  06:15

I haven't heard, no I haven't seen it.

Zoe Chamberlain  06:15

Really? It's my favourite one.

Jo Camp  06:15

It's like, everyone just went on the first one and then was like, no, no, don't want to watch the second.

Zoe Chamberlain  06:29

I mean, I didn't really even know it was a trilogy for a while. But a lot of people prefer the first one, it's like, it's the original. I really like the second one. I think it's cool - different and setting and stuff.

Jo Camp  06:44

And then have you got - is there a movie that you feel like everyone talks about and loves so much that you've then watched and you thought, why? Why are they so into it?

Zoe Chamberlain  06:53

Yes, might be a bit controversial, but, Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind. Have you seen that one?

Jo Camp  07:01

I generally feel like now I haven't watched any movies. I'm gonna have to check my subscriptions to Netflix and stuff tonight, because I haven't watched enough movies.

Zoe Chamberlain  07:13

A lot of the movies I watch aren't necessarily on Netflix. Yeah, on Prime Video and stuff.

Jo Camp  07:21

Oh yeah, no, I've got them. I'm gonna have to, you're gonna have to send me a list and write them down for me. I feel like I haven't spent enough time on it. So let's say RiskSTOP. You spent a couple of days here now and obviously what we've said, your mum's been here a long time, so you must know quite a bit about it and the people that work here. So if we're gonna say RiskSTOP is a movie, we're making a movie. What genre is it? And who would you play?

Zoe Chamberlain  07:49

I think it might be kind of like, like a sweet one, like a sweet little movie.

Jo Camp  07:55

Not a horror?

Zoe Chamberlain  07:55

Well, I don't know if that'd be very...

Jo Camp  08:02

I mean, I can give you some tips!

Zoe Chamberlain  08:04

I don't think people would really like it if I said that. But I guess you could do a horror movie, yeah.

Jo Camp  08:10

Yeah? Who's the villain out there?

Zoe Chamberlain  08:10

My mum!

Jo Camp  08:10

Oh no, she's not. She's the one running away that everyone's like, please, please run run he's behind you. So your mum's the villain in the story?

Zoe Chamberlain  08:10

Yeah, well no one would suspect her.

Jo Camp  08:28

Very true. I like it. So it's like a murder mystery sort of, RiskSTOP murder mystery. And who are you playing in this?

Zoe Chamberlain  08:38

I could be here for work experience. And, yeah, it's like a different thing and this time I'm here for a week.

Jo Camp  08:48

Yeah, have we got a title for the movie?

Zoe Chamberlain  08:51

The risk that can't be stopped?

Jo Camp  08:53

Oh my goodness, I'm in for this! Okay, that can be a summer project. Yeah, we'll start doing a movie for the next time. I love that. And does George make it out?

Zoe Chamberlain  09:06

Well, I feel like I should say yes, because she's my mum, and she probably wouldn't like it if I say no.

Jo Camp  09:06

But you don't want her to win the movie.

Zoe Chamberlain  09:06

Well, justice has to be served..

Jo Camp  09:19

Have you got a favourite film soundtrack? Because I love a movie [soundtrack], I probably listen to them more than I watch films.

Zoe Chamberlain  09:25

Yeah, I would say Jawbreaker, but I've already talked about that one. But have you seen Rocky Horror?

Jo Camp  09:32

Yes I have!

Zoe Chamberlain  09:33

Yes I love Rocky Horror. I really love the soundtrack in that, yeah.

Jo Camp  09:38

Have you gone to then watch that in the theatre?

Zoe Chamberlain  09:40

Oh, I haven't, but where I am the pavilion says that - someone commented it when they were asking for suggestions, so I'm hoping that they listen.

Jo Camp  09:50

Yeah, that's very good around Halloween. That would be wicked.

Zoe Chamberlain  09:53

Oh, that would be cool. Yeah.

Jo Camp  09:56

Do you like Halloween movies?

Zoe Chamberlain  09:58

I do. If they're like set on Halloween, do you mean?

Jo Camp  10:01

Yeah

Zoe Chamberlain  10:02

There was this really good one I watched. Have you seen House of 1000 Corpses?

Jo Camp  10:06

Do you know what, I want to say that I have, but it hasn't stuck in my head.

Zoe Chamberlain  10:10

Oh, it was directed by Rob Zombie. Oh, it's really good. I love it. I love it. It's a trilogy. It's really good. I love it.

Jo Camp  10:16

See, I struggle to even remember the people in the movie, the characters, let alone who directed it and produced it. So best movie quote of all time, have you got one of those?

Zoe Chamberlain  10:28

Oh, I literally can't remember, but it's from Death Proof in one of the final scenes. Oh, I literally can't remember. It's stressing me out.

Jo Camp  10:36

Oh, I hate that.

Zoe Chamberlain  10:38

Oh, but the last scene in it is really good. There's like, tonnes of really good quotes in there.

Jo Camp  10:43

Do you use them on your mum and stuff? Do you find you drop film quotes in some conversation? "I'll be back.", "Zoe do the washing up!", "I'll be back."

Zoe Chamberlain  10:55

Sometimes, yeah. What movies have like you been watching. What's your favourite?

Jo Camp  11:03

Oh, my favourite movie. See, I like a bit of a comedy. I like Grown Ups, the movies.

Zoe Chamberlain  11:10

I haven't seen that, but I've heard of it, yeah.

Jo Camp  11:12

They just make me belly chuckle. What else do I like? See, I like the old ones. Like The Fog and Birds. I like an old creepy movie. I feel like, because it's so badly filmed, it makes it more scary. But yeah, I'm really excited, I really want to go watch Jurassic Park the movie, the new one that's come out. Even though they've been getting worse as they come on. It feels like, because I grew up loving the first Jurassic Parks, that I have to keep watching them. It's like nostalgia now.

Zoe Chamberlain  11:44

Yeah, I always liked looking at all the dinosaur designs and stuff. You know, they're like, really big and scary.

Jo Camp  11:46

It is really good and it looks so real now. I generally sometimes feel or like, if I've watched Jaws, do you like Jaws?

Zoe Chamberlain  11:57

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Jo Camp  11:59

Then I don't like - even though I know it's just a movie and we don't get sharks in Weymouth Beach, I still feel like I need to wait about a month till I go down for a swim in the sea just in case he's right out there. So, yeah, I think I would say my one that I could constantly watch is Grown Ups or Grease. Me and my daughter love watching Grease.

Zoe Chamberlain  12:20

Oh I haven't seen that one.

Jo Camp  12:21

You haven't watched Grease?! I would have thought your mum would be like, full on, like, you're Sandy. I'm John Travolta!

Zoe Chamberlain  12:21

I think my mum has probably seen it. I don't know. I don't know if my mum's seen it, you know.

Jo Camp  12:35

No? It's a musical, do you like a musical?

Zoe Chamberlain  12:38

Oh, I do like a musical, sometimes, yeah.

Jo Camp  12:40

You must have heard the Grease music soundtracks.

Zoe Chamberlain  12:42

I've probably heard a couple songs off there. But I couldn't name them off the top of my head.

Jo Camp  12:45

No, I won't sing them for you, because sometimes me talking on here is too much, so I'm definitely not going to start singing, and it might give Charlotte some more ideas. Yeah, I think they're my go tos. My daughter's really got into Grease. She's 13. Yeah, we sing it the whole way through, you know, like, the Greatest Showman, do you like that one? No?

Zoe Chamberlain  12:51

Is that a show?

Jo Camp  12:57

The Greatest Showman? Wasn't that really big?

Zoe Chamberlain  13:16

Like, I know a couple songs off that, I think, yeah.

Jo Camp  13:18

Yeah, when you watch it, I can't watch that one without singing along to it and that's what I'm like with Grease as well. But like I said, I won't sing them. Okay, so my last probably important question was back to you, is, if you could only watch one film for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Zoe Chamberlain  13:37

I would probably say, and I've never really thought about this one, but probably Rocky Horror, because it's like, it's funny. It's got, like, you know, I like the music in that. It's really good.

Jo Camp  13:47

I'm actually singing one of the songs in my head. Since you mentioned it, is in my head which again, I'll keep it in there. But, isn't that one where they do the timewarp?

Zoe Chamberlain  13:58

Yeah, yeah.

Jo Camp  13:58

See, that's just been going in my head the whole time since you mentioned it, and I would actually probably want to get up and do the little dance, I'm going to go home and do it, just to get it out my system. But yeah, I do love that one. I remember when I was at school, I went to watch that in the theatre. It was really good. Yeah, so, well, I think that's a wrap on today's episode,

Zoe Chamberlain  14:16

Awesome!

Jo Camp  14:17

So a huge thanks Zoe for joining me. It was great to chat, and I definitely now have a few films that I need to go home and watch. It's been lovely getting to know you, Zoe, and hearing all about your favourite films. Best of luck with the rest of your time at RiskSTOP, and maybe one day we'll see your name in credits somewhere. Thanks for listening and maybe for tonight, you'll all go home and watch a film, bye for now.

Jo Camp  14:39

If you've enjoyed this episode, don't forget to check out our others at riskstopgroup.co.uk. We cover all sorts of stories from across the RiskSTOP Group, from epic adventures to unexpected talents. Follow us on our social to stay updated with new episodes, stories and opportunities to get involved. We'll be back soon with all kinds of things to talk about and a variety of guests, and remember here at RiskSTOP Group, it's all about keeping people safe and secure, believing in our social responsibility and sustainability. Thank you everyone for listening and goodbye for now.