Flip the Hat: Seeing Leadership from Both Sides of the Table

What happens when an apprentice steps into the CEO’s shoes – and the CEO steps into the world of an apprentice?

As part of our National Apprenticeship Week celebrations, Flip the Hat created exactly that opportunity. Designed to give apprentices meaningful exposure to senior leadership, the initiative allows colleagues to temporarily exchange perspectives – building understanding, confidence, and connection across the Federation.

For Degree Apprentice Amy Balfour, this meant spending time alongside our CEO, Sir Dan Moynihan, in two very different but equally powerful settings.

Stepping into senior leadership

In the first 20-minute session, Amy joined Sir Dan in supporting the interview of a prospective governor. Rather than observing quietly, she prepared in advance and actively contributed to the conversation.

Reflecting afterwards, Sir Dan shared:

“Amy came in well prepared and asked thoughtful, searching questions throughout. She brought confidence and clarity to a senior discussion and made a meaningful contribution to our decision.”
— Sir Dan Moynihan

For Amy, being trusted in such a setting was transformational. It demonstrated that leadership is not defined by title, but by preparation, curiosity, and the courage to contribute.

Showcasing operational expertise at the executive level

The second session flipped the dynamic.

Sir Dan joined Amy in her role as a Chartered Manager Degree Apprentice in IT. Together, they discussed outdated agreements, checked compliance details, and updated key information to ensure accuracy and value for the Federation.

It was a powerful reminder that leadership depends on operational excellence — and that strategic decisions are grounded in careful, detailed work happening behind the scenes.

For Amy, this was an opportunity not only to demonstrate the depth of responsibility within her role, but also to show how IT contract management directly supports the wider organisation.

Learning leadership through lived experience

Another Flip the Hat conversation paired apprentice Andrew Williams with HR Director Kelly Thompson, offering insight into the breadth and complexity of HR leadership.

Andrew shared reflections on his apprenticeship journey so far – from early rotations in IT to projects in HR and onboarding. Sitting in on meetings regarding Oracle data and senior leadership pledges, he observed firsthand how strategic decisions are debated, challenged, and refined.

What stood out most was the nuance of leadership: how senior colleagues navigate differing opinions, manage competing priorities, and maintain focus on long-term organisational commitments. For Andrew, it deepened his understanding of how HR not only supports colleagues, but shapes culture, accountability, and standards across the Federation.

Equally important was the reciprocal learning. By seeing Andrew’s work and hearing about his development pathway, senior leaders gained greater visibility of the apprenticeship experience — strengthening alignment between talent development and organisational strategy.

More than role swapping

Flip the Hat is not simply about shadowing; it is about mutual insight.

It reinforces that at Harris; apprentices are not confined to observation. They are invited into meaningful conversations, trusted with responsibility, and encouraged to see how their work connects to the Federation’s wider mission.

For Amy and Andrew, the experience strengthened confidence and sharpened ambition. For senior leaders, it offered a valuable window into the next generation of talent shaping Harris’ future.

At its heart, Flip the Hat reflects a core belief: leadership is not a distant concept reserved for later in your career. It is something you learn by doing, by contributing, and by understanding how every part of the organisation – from IT contracts to governance interviews – connects to the shared purpose of delivering exceptional education.

As our apprentices continue their three-year journey, experiences like this ensure they are not only gaining qualifications, but developing the judgement, perspective, and confidence to lead with impact in the years ahead.