The jobs of Downing Street ...
🖥️ Could you be a science + technology adviser to the PM?
☀️ King’s Cross - the new Palo Alto
🍸 CBD Gin
Welcome to the 23 new subscribers since our last edition. If you are new here, my name is Jimmy McLoughlin, a former Downing Street adviser turned podcaster. I write this notebook on the most interesting things I have seen on the future of work, jobs, technology and somewhat occasionally politics.
I am currently participating in the Substack accelerator programme, and one of the things they say you should do is remind people why they subscribe …
Well, in our last edition, I wrote that Boris Johnson was safer than people predicted as the executive is stronger in the UK than people realise, he then promptly faced a confidence vote where 41% of his MPs voted against him!
I also described Multiverse co-founded by Euan Blair and JJ guest Alum, Sophie Adelman as a ‘soonicorn’, well last week it became a unciorn valued at £1.7 billion.
Perhaps the two stories demonstrate that you really are better off following me for business and entrepreneurship content than politics!
Jobs of Downing Street
There is a wonderful story of JFK, during a visit to the NASA Space Centre in 1962, he noticed a janitor carrying a broom. He stopped his tour, walked over to the man and said: “Hi, I’m Jack Kennedy, what are you doing?”
The janitor responded: “I’m helping put a man on the moon, Mr President.” He wasn’t merely a janitor, he was a member of 1962 NASA Space Team. The story has become almost a mythical legend, but it demonstrates the point, everyone is part of something bigger.
I was reminded of this story during all the partygate fall out, and the importance of all the staff at every level in the Downing Street operation. I wrote a short Twitter thread (click to expand)
Although I did forget perhaps two of the most important roles, that of the canteen staff, if 10 Downing Street is the cockpit of the nation, then the cafe is the engine room.
It was run by two amazing women, Alison and Majorie who despite the rather cramped kitchen were able to provide great breakfasts, as the French say ‘if you want to eat well in England, eat breakfast three times a day’.
Public Appointments
Another important but misunderstood job in No.10 is to try and get as many applicants to public bodies as possible.
I was tasked with getting more business leaders and private sector people to apply, rather than the same bunch of names who regularly applied for every role available …
As part of a new feature of this notebook, I am going to start posting some of the most interesting and business related roles here. The one below I thought was relevant to the readers of this newsletter in particular. The closing date is June 20th (which is part of the reason for this early email)
Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology – Member (x3)
“The role of CST members is to draw on their experience as a senior leader within business, academia, finance or the voluntary sector to bring a variety of perspectives on science and technology issues to help Government in developing and delivering sound evidence-based policy. Members will be expected to contribute actively to both the Council’s policy agenda and to nurture links across the Council’s extensive network of senior stakeholders.”
Time: 1-2 days per month, no remueration.
Full details here
☀️ King’s Cross - the new Palo Alto?
Good post from fellow creator / substacker, Graham Ruddick who has been looking at research from Saul Klein and the Local Globe VC team.
FWIW having spent two months in 2020 in Palo Alto … I think London has got a lot more going for it, a theme we shall return too
🍸 CBD Gin
I love the story of Sally Wynter, out travelling in Thailand, she discovered infused gin, came home, founded a company selling CBD Gin in the UK and sold it for a seven figure sum …
End of the Notebook …
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‘Feedback is a gift’ was the last thing we were told on my course at Stanford and it has always stuck with me …
So feel free to drop us a line with whatever your feedback is on the notebook or podcast, whether that be an amazing guest you’d like me to feature, or a news story about the future of jobs/work - hit reply and let us know or email us on - hello@jobsofthefuture.co
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