Future Leaders Programme

BVAA has, throughout 2016, been running a pilot programme to develop a small group of future leaders for the industry.

Published: 17th November 2016 | Issue 39 Share article:

Identified by their employers as having the right qualities and potential to become leaders within their own organisations, this small group has been put through a number of activities designed to help them FastTrack their experiences within the industry, their personal skills and knowledge, etc., but without having to change jobs or employers.

The programme comprises a series of days set at each one of the candidates’ premises, where they and their colleagues educate their cohort in a particular specialism, activity or area of excellence where their company excels. In addition to this dozen or so days, the most recent of which were held at Heap & Partners and Alco Valves Group, BVAA has provided the group with a series of personal development courses to help round the individuals.

Furthermore, BVAA has provided opportunities for the group to expand their personal network of contacts, offered free technical training courses to the cohort (which will include a life-long discount thereafter), and arranged experience days at centres of excellence serving the industry.

One such ‘experience’ was held in September at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Sheffield, at the kind invitation of Dr Graham Small. A busy day included tours of AMRC Castings (formerly CTI), the Nuclear AMRC, the AMRC Design Centre, The Welding Institute, AMRC Training Centre and the inspiring AMRC ‘Factory 2050.’

BVAA Director Rob Bartlett commented, "This was a very exciting day, and an experience that many in our industry have yet to have despite long careers. Seeing first-hand what is available to these future leaders by way of help and assistance can only work to the advantage of all concerned." Continuing the BVAA Director’s Future Leaders Programme programme philosophy of ‘you drive, we assist’ the Future Leaders Group have also been encouraged to take the initiative and discuss and specify what experiences and additional material they feel will help them develop. One such event is an imminent visit to a foundry (Noel Village). Another is an add-on in the shape of a formal Mentor Training programme.

BVAA’s Director notes, "A formal mentoring qualification was unforeseen at the outset and a testament to the way in which this group has developed and taken the lead in their own development. BVAA will support this initiative by funding all the training costs. And at no surprise to anyone involved in the programme, several members of the group have also volunteered to mentor the next cohort!"

A full round up on the Future Leaders Programme will be presented by the current cohort to the membership at the BVAA AGM on November 18th 2016.

If you are a BVAA Member and would like to enter a suitable candidate for the next cohort, contact rob@bvaa.org.uk

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