Statistics show that employers of all types are having difficulty attracting the right kind of people for their business, be it for short or long-term projects. They also claim that universities are not preparing graduates capable of fulfilling many the vacancies on offer.
Well educated, knowledgeable students experience extreme difficulty obtaining employment on completion of their degree. They also feel that their knowledge and talents are often wasted during work experience, being given menial tasks instead of challenging topics which utilise their skills and knowledge.
CVLinks provides a conduit to link academia with commerce and to help to overcome this problem. By working closely with both sides, particularly in the area of work experience during study time, this will enable the two sides to understand one another better, resulting in more accurate matchmaking. This will also allow companies, charities, government departments and community organisations access to a wider choice of candidates and provide many thousands of students with a better chance of securing a position.
Our more mature executives, combine a wealth of experience, covering over a century in international commerce, trade, community and charitable organisations and academia on a worldwide basis. This experience has included utilising the services of students requiring work experience, either as part of their degree, or to enhance their CVs.
Our children and grandchildren, several of which are at university, update us on their experience, good bad or indifferent. Furthermore, some of our junior members of staff are actually going through the process of similar experiences right now.
We work with universities and colleges throughout the world, introducing their students to global opportunities. These will be with our contacts with Chambers of Commerce and their members, on all continents plus many other federations, institutes and other bodies including community organisations and charities. Not only will this lead to work experience but also to long-term employment on completion of their degrees.
Michael Bollen
CEO
CEO, Michael Bollen epitomises the international and multicultural experience, knowledge, attitude and empathy of this global operation.
A German national, resident in the UK, Michael has lived and worked in the Netherlands, the USA and the Republic of Ireland in addition to Germany and the UK. His dynamic career, exceeding more than 35 years has included vast experience developing, implementing and running IT services around the world, across manufacturing; high-tech; telecommunications and financial services. It focuses been operational turn round paired with regulatory compliance in securing the digital assets of enterprises in which he has held senior positions either on a direct basis or as a non-executive director. His experience also includes start-ups, SMEs and he serves as IT adviser for a homeless charity based in London. Married, with 2 daughters, in his spare time Michael can be found either on his powerful motorcycle, woodworking in Asia little workshop or teaching scuba-diving.
John Hope
Director
Director, John Hope, (William on Sundays) began his career as an accountant in the Royal Air Force, serving in Malta, Gibraltar, Singapore, Malaya and Borneo, the latter on active service. His roles included running the Far East Air Force budget, setting up the whole of the accounting system for a camp of over 2000 personnel in the jungles of Borneo and auditing the accounts of Royal Australian Air Force unit.
During his 10 year service, he attended residential courses at Hull University and the University of Bristol in both modern and computer accounting.
John decided on a career change, following his 10 year service and his commercial experience includes senior positions with food giant Heinz, world leading car and truck rental Hertz and several smaller organisations. Many of these allowed him to follow his passion for travel and he has worked throughout Europe; in the USA and in India and Sri Lanka, from where he had to flee the tsunami.
As past president of a local Chamber of Commerce, John has seen the development of micro-businesses and is aware of the vital role which they play in today’s world economy. He experienced the value of connections with Chambers of Commerce when working with those in Poland and Sri Lanka when opening branches of an overseas property company in those 2 countries. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Fundraising; Institute of Sales and Marketing Management and Nottingham Trent University where he helped to train undergraduates in interviewing preparation and techniques.
Rasika Thenunara
Rasika Thenunara plays a vital role in the organisation in the creation, development management of the website. A Sri Lankan businessman with experience in web design and development, his background includes extensive experience in graphic design and advertising in addition to Information Technology. He is well known throughout Sri Lanka, with interests in Lion Tec Solutions (Pvt) Ltd and Web Solutions Lanka Holdings Pvt Ltd.
he is also involved in, CVLinks parent organisation, Intercontinental Commercial Enterprises Ltd in a similar role.
Raja Khan
Raja Khan is one of the 2 founders of CVLinks, and has remained involved with specific responsibility for the recruitment of interns. This is an area, in which he has achieved considerable success in and in a very short period of time placed over 100 interns to a selection of solicitors, trading companies and charities. Studying law Raja is typical of talented, young entrepreneurs being turned out my modern universities. Born in Hong Kong, but moving to the UK at a very early age, Raja lives in multicultural Leicester. He contributes enthusiasm and energy in his passion to help his peers to obtain the necessary experience required, either as part of their degree or to enhance their CVs.
Rashmika Sandushi
Rashmika Sandushi is a Sri Lankan based marketing and research member of the team, playing a vital role in linking the organisation to universities throughout the world. She combines the work with studying for a bachelor of arts degree, thus gaining valuable experience towards her own chosen career. Rashmika is enjoying being involved in an international organisation, broadening her horizons in addition to honing her own skills.
Kavinda Ashen
Kavinda Ashen is the youngest member of the team but has already clocked up over a year’s experience with the parent organisation. His research concentrates on our development of links with Chamber of Commerce throughout the world in addition to assisting with his information technology development.
Kavinda lives quite close to the test match cricket ground in Galle on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka and is a keen follower of the exploits of his national team.
In addition to our own team, we practice what we preach by using interns who gain work experience while helping us to develop our services throughout the world.
