Sting’s song about Quentin Crisp celebrated one British ex-patriate who made a home here. Last week, we honoured another. In June 2010, Her Majesty The Queen honoured former Mountbatten Director Michael Billett with the award of an OBE. Michael has been working with the Mountbatten Programme for 15 years. Mountbatten provides young British, Indian and Thai professionals with a one year work placement, academic qualifications and most importantly the opportunity to live in this great city; and gives their American counterparts a similar experience in London. The Consulate benefits by having some of these talented young people work for us. I asked two of our young Mountbatten colleagues, Rosalind Vallon and Samuel Robson, to tell us about their experiences in New York.
Samuel: I left the UK in September 2010, about to embark on a 17 month journey which would take me to New York and Bangkok for the Mountbatten MBA Programme. I had no real idea about what to expect or whether I would be able to juggle an internship, a social life and my MBA workload, however, looking back over the past four months, I can without question say that my decision was the correct one. Living with other career driven individuals, the programme offers an all inclusive experience in a city which literally never sleeps.
Rosalind: Following a distinguished career in the British Military (for which he was awarded an MBE), Michael Billett served as New York Director with the Mountbatten Institute (or the Mountbatten Internship Programme as it was known then) for 15 years, ending in 2009. In January this year, Sir Alan Collins, British Consul-General New York hosted an evening reception to honour Michael Billett, along with two other recent honours recipients (and New York based Brits) Ian Ralfini OBE and Peter Tear MBE.
At Mountbatten, he oversaw the growth and development of the American side of what has become a major vehicle for the advancement of graduate student exchange and work experience between the United States and the United Kingdom. This support for the British, Indian, Thai and other international students under his care in NY is well recorded in the annals of Mountbatten Institute history. Since leaving the Institute, Michael Billett has gone on to establish a new independent company, Phase Two International, which provides a specialized job placement service to former Mountbatten Interns upon their return to their home countries. This initiative, although still in the start-up stages, will be tested for the first time by the current crop of Mountbatten interns, who leave New York this coming March.
Samuel: The opportunities provided to me through the Mountbatten Programme have undoubtedly enhanced my understanding about cross cultural relationships between the UK and America. Working in a new business environment has taught me some key skills which will be benefit me enormously in future jobs. Through my internship I have also been fortunate enough to attend events such as a lecture by the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and a dinner hosted by the Economist where President Bill Clinton was the guest speaker. All of these experiences have allowed me to learn more about myself and I hope to use this knowledge in the future as I continue my career.