Future leaders of armed forces go under cover at Dorset businesses
This week, thirty officers from the UK Defence Academy's Joint Services Command and Staff College visited two of Dorset's leading companies to learn more about the world of industry.
The exchange programme with a twist saw James Wilson, a manufacturer of illuminated panels and keyboards for the aviation sector, and the Groveley Group, a precision engineering company, welcome the officers on site as part of the Advanced Command and Staff Course (ACSC). The command and leadership course is for officers at Major to Lieutenant Colonel level in the UK armed forces and other government departments. The course is the equivalent to a Masters degree and aims to prepare selected officers for senior appointments.
Next week, senior managers from the two companies will attend the Joint Services Command and Staff College in Shrivenham to see how strategic planning is undertaken in the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
Beacon South West, a South West of England Regional Development Agency initiative that brings together the region's leading companies to share best practise and ideas to strengthen the economy, organised the event with the MOD.
The aim of the exchange is to give officers and companies alike a better understanding of the range of issues that different organisations face and share views on strategic management and leadership.
Sue Baker, director of Beacon South West, says: "We welcome and encourage initiatives such as this which enable Beacon companies to share their knowledge and expertise with the wider world. James Wilson and the Groveley Group are examples of leading companies in the South West that have developed innovative management structures and are always looking to share their knowledge with other best practise organisations."
Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Pennell of the Joint Services Command and Staff College adds: "Our students have enjoyed the chance to visit leading regional businesses and discuss how strategy is implemented and managed internally. We hope that next week's visit to the college by the companies involved will enable us to continue this conversation, sharing and comparing our experiences."
Andrew Holm, managing director of James Wilson, explains: "At James Wilson, we have a flat management structure and our employees have to be self-motivated and self-disciplined. This is quite different from the Ministry of Defence's approach to leadership and management, so the exchange has been eye-opening and instructive for all involved."
Peter Bennet, managing director of the Groveley Group, concludes: "We work with the MOD regularly so it has been really interesting to see things from their perspective. At the moment, the MOD is being encouraged to work with SMEs and so I think the officers enjoyed finding out more about how an SME operates, witnessing how as a smaller enterprise we are more nimble than larger competitors and able to respond quickly to customer requests. It was definitely a useful exchange."
