Day in the life of a Centre Manager

Harpurhey Shopping Centre has partnered up with a local school for an interactive collaboration. As part of this initiative, two lucky pupils had the incredible opportunity to experience a day in the life of a Centre Manager, and vice versa! To enter the competition, pupils were required to submit a ‘job application’, showcasing their interest and enthusiasm for the role. A judging panel, comprising our Centre Management team, carefully reviewed each application and selected the winners. 2 winners were chosen from St Augustine’s Primary School, Chelsea from year 6, and Safah from year 5. There were many very strong applications, however these talented students particularly stood out for their passion, creativity, and enthusiasm.

For one day, Chelsea and Safah stepped into the shoes of Sameera Gunaratne, the Operations Manager at Harpurhey Shopping Centre. Throughout the day, Sameera guided them through his daily responsibilities, which included attending to urgent matters, responding to inquiries, collecting payments, and creating comprehensive reports.

In addition to shadowing Sameera, both winning pupils also had the chance to gain insights into security operations on-site. After a patrol with the security team around the centre, Chelsea and Safah particularly enjoyed communicating via walkie-talkies, observing operations in the Security Control Room and identifying hidden cameras around the centre. They even learned how to operate a cleaning machine with the cleaning team!

The pupils were also introduced to market managers Shaun O’Toole and David Carr, as well as various traders in the market. Engaging with the traders allowed Chelsea and Safah to learn about many of the intricacies of various trades, including how to handle bookings and complaints.

The day was filled with valuable experiences and insights, leaving Chelsea and Safah with a newfound appreciation for the role of Centre Managers; who knows, perhaps one day they will pursue a career in this field themselves!

Roles were reversed as Sameera experienced a day in the life of a pupil at St Augustine’s Primary School. The pupils enthusiastically guided Sameera on a tour around the school, showcasing different classrooms, their impressive playground, and the serene pond area. Throughout the day, Sameera was immersed in the students’ daily routines, gaining insights into their typical activities and experiences.

At the end of the day, a playful game of guessing ensued, allowing the pupils to ask Sameera questions and attempt to deduce his profession. This interactive session provided the students with valuable insights into Sameera’s role as a Centre Manager, instilling a deeper understanding of his responsibilities and contributions to the community.