Introducing Graham Hunter, Local Community Grants Panel Member
I’m the UK & EMEA Recruitment and Talent Manager and my job is to essentially work closely with HR Business Partners and line managers from the business to ensure that outstanding talent is attracted to The Body Shop, effectively selected and recruited.
I have a real interest in the principles of charity donation and fund raising. I’m someone who donates to charities and people always tell me that the money is generally wasted on staff and marketing activities with very little ending up with those who need it so being a part of the Panel will give me the chance to see the real effects of people donating.
And the following 10 questions we ask absolutely everyone…
Apart from your home and car, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought?
I think it was a 1960’s Danish Rosewood coffee table I bought after having a bottle of wine one lunchtime and got carried away but don’t regret it as I love it.
What’s been the most embarrasing moment of your life?
Easy. I once told a guest at a wedding I was attending that I was a champion Scottish Highland Country Dancer ( I was in a kilt you see and it was a work colleagues wedding in London). When I returned from the bar about an hour later the whole wedding party had formed a circle on the dance floor and the MC took to the stage and announced that I would be demonstrating my dancing skills. Needless to say it was a bit of a car crash which regrettably was re-told to everyone back in the office on the Monday.
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
Oh so many things – some really small things like I’d ban spitting in public – some bigger changes like free state and university education for all. One thing that I think is deplorable in our society is when commercial companies waste food and drink for the sake of advertising or promotion – i.e. building a car out of cake etc – when there are millions of people starving in the world….wasting food is a real bug bear of mine that I’d impose stricter controls over.
If you were invisible for a day, what would be the first thing you’d do?
Well apart from the obvious….I’d love to go to somewhere really famous like Buckingham Palace and see all the rooms you’re not allowed to visit. I’m nosey so being invisible would be great fun for me!
If you had a pound to give to charity, which collection tin would you pop it in?
I’m really supportive of a range of charities and donate to the Red Cross and Amnesty International. If I had just one tin to choose then I’d go for the smaller less well know charity as I appreciate it’s harder to survive versus some of the bigger organisations. I’m a sucker for anything supporting animals so a local cat and dog home would be likely to get my pound.
When was the last time you cried?
I tend to get a bit teary on a Sunday afternoon after a big night out when watching the most ridiculous programmes like X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing! I think the last time I actually shed a tear was watching an infomercial about the cruelty to Donkeys across Europe! Very sad. When they play that haunting piece of music and the voiceover comes on I’m a gonner.
Who did you last receive a text from and what did it say?
It was from Homebase telling me the drill I’d ordered has arrived. Exciting stuff.
If you had to change your first name, what would you change it to?
Well I was actually called Scott for about 3 months when I was first born – but my Mum decided I didn’t look like a Scott after all and changed it to Graham so maybe I’d revert back to that!
What is your favourite thing about The Body Shop Foundation?
Apart from the fantastic charity shop I think just the very fact it exists is fantastic. We’re lucky to work for a company who believe in giving back a large chunk of its profits each year to such a fantastic cause.
What one skill or talent do you have that no-one knows about?
I have my own website and online shop selling hand-made cards and paper goods! I’m nuts about stationery and get very excited every time I go into Paperchase or WHSmith!
