HMV

Slide 1: 

What’s the point of maths… why are we doing all this, Sir? Hi, my name is Alan Giles… I’m in charge at HMV… We’re the shop that sells CDs, DVDs, computer games… We’ve got shops in 10 countries. We employ 13,000+ people. Why are we learning all this? When will I use this in real life, Sir? What’s the point?

Slide 2: 

Mr Whitfield asked me to write to you at Southgate School and say why I think maths is important… Why are we learning all this? When will I use this in real life, Sir? What’s the point? HMV also runs Waterstone’s, Britain’s biggest bookseller!

Slide 3: 

Why are we learning all this? When will I use this in real life, Sir? What’s the point? We have to factor in pay days, school holidays, the weather and all the other things which affect whether people go shopping! We use maths to calculate all these factors very precisely. Every day every HMV store has to decide how many chart albums and singles should be re-ordered. That requires skill and judgement… We have to create a mathematical model of how sales for a new CD are likely to develop.

Slide 4: 

Why are we learning all this? When will I use this in real life, Sir? What’s the point? Above all we believe that a sound knowledge of maths helps our employees think logically and objectively, and helps us make better decisions.

Slide 5: 

Why are we learning all this? When will I use this in real life, Sir? What’s the point? I still use the concepts I learned at school every day in my job. Good luck with your studies… Alan Giles “I feel strongly about this having studied maths at my local comprehensive school…wondering what the point was! Not only did I pick up what the subject was about… But I also began to enjoy it.”