North Beckton primary school received an education with a diffence today courtesy of Olympic Track Cycling gold medalist Paul Manning. Members of the school’s cycling club visited ISG for a cycling Q&A session with the world record holder, who will be joining ISG as an Assistant Construction Manager in January 2009.

Knowing that the Beijing Olympics would be his last professional cycling event, Manning began exploring possible post-Olympic career prospects some time ago, meeting with ISG in 2007 after establishing that his qualifications and interests were well suited to a career in construction. Cheshire-based Manning visited the team at ISG’s Manchester office and a selection of projects sites before accepting the company’s job offer of Assistant Construction Manager in July 2008.

Paul, who with his track cycling team Steven Burke, Edward Clancy, Geraint Thomas and Bradley Wiggings, smashed the existing world record in Beijing last month, talked to the excitable junior cycling enthusiasts from North Beckton about some of his career highlights before taking to the floor for a Q&A session.

ISG has an established partnership with North Beckton primary school, having provided a team of volunteers to spruce up the school’s gardens in May this year. ISG was one of over 80 UK companies in the UK that gave staff the opportunity to volunteer for one day’s community work within London as part of Business in the Community’s (BITC) ‘London Better Together Day’.

Speaking of today’s event Paul says:

“My infatuation with cycling started when I was very young so it was great to see the same kind of enthusiasm from the younger generation although I wasn’t sure if the questions would ever end!”

Speaking of Paul’s appointment, ISG Regions Managing Director Craig Tatton says:

“Paul’s focus and determination will add real value to the service ISG provides and we couldn’t be more pleased to have him on board.”

Email: sara.schmid@isgplc.com