LAUNCH OF TOP TALENT PROGRAMS

This year we launched two brand-new development programmes aimed at accelerating the development of our top talent.

We created the ‘Accelerator’ programme, targeting our earlyto-mid-level talent, and the ‘Future Shaper’ programme, targeting our senior-level leaders. Both programmes run across an 18-month period and blend in-person events, which bring together team members from across the world, with virtual learning sessions, and psychometrics. Each programme kicks off with an in-person event we call ‘Unplugged’.

It is the first opportunity to bring the group together, outside of the office environment, and is focused on building the foundations for the rest of the programme through a series of activities, challenges and workshops. The ‘Unplugged’ experience provides the opportunity for each team member to challenge themselves outside of their comfort zone and to demonstrate their leadership potential and capabilities, while reinforcing the importance of the team outcomes and showing resilience and agility in response to the external context.

This year, our Accelerators explored the Peak District, UK, and the activities included raft building, abseiling, rock climbing, hiking and caving, whilst our Future Shapers were based in the New Forest, UK, where they engaged in a series of leadership command tasks, high ropes challenges, raft building, plus a series of workshops on leadership and peer coaching. Feedback on the programmes so far has been extremely positive and they have been successful in reinforcing our ‘One Team’ culture.