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03 October 2019

As a part of the Nicholls Lecture Series, Jonathan Quinn came into school to talk to the Sixth Form about his experiences in life and as an ‘inventrepreneur’.

By Toby Brown, Upper Sixth Student

Mr Quinn began the lecture by discussing a recent health scare he’d had whilst on holiday with his family, and later on circled back to this as something that helped him provide context in difficult times in his working life. Mr Quinn attributed the skills he gained for his working life to DofE, and qualifications he achieved whilst training as a welder. His original background came in engineering.  However, by the age of 22 he was managing over 200 people in ‘shutdown operations’.

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His first taste of owning his own company came when he purchased a metal recovery company, for which he had to sell a considerable deal of his assets. From there Mr Quinn detailed how he had developed into a successful inventor and engineer, designing several commercial chemical pathways despite having an F in GCSE Chemistry. Some of Mr Quinn’s most notable current inventions include a range extender for electronic cars, and an energy efficient portable ultrasonic cleaner. These two products both show Mr Quinn’s commitment to the environment, which he sees as a particularly pressing issue in today’s society, alongside the need for community, which he demonstrates through his work with the Wirral Chamber of Commerce.

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Following his talk, Mr Quinn was more than happy to answer the many questions the 6th Form asked, further promoting the need for developing connections with students and alumni, and also making new contacts via social platforms such as LinkedIn. I know I speak for the whole of the Sixth Form when I thank Mr Quinn for coming in to talk to us.  Personally I learnt a lot, and I would be surprised if the talk didn’t inspire many students to consider the idea of running their own businesses.

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The Nicholls Lecture Series is part of Birkenhead School's 'Inspiring Talks Series' to read more on guests that we have welcomed to the School, including Lord Nicholas Wilson and Dr Jaclyn Bell , please click here.