As an ex-apprentice mechanical engineer (1983-87 vintage), I was excited to hear how well six of our local government apprentices had done in the recent Apprentice Business Challenge. Kieran Jenkins, Katy Harrington, Christa Harrington, Claire Ashton, Damion Godwin and Megan Mounty all took part in the competition.
The subject they were given to argue was “why should a business take on an apprentice?” They had to work together as a team to develop and create a presentation which they had to give to three external judges to convince them to take on an apprentice and how specifically it would benefit them and their business.
I was so pleased to hear that the team won against many other organisations – public and private sector, and that they are now off to the regional finals next Monday, 21 March. So we all wish them all the luck in the world for next week.
When our team received their feedback about how they could improve the presentation, the judges said that “they we were amazing, and that they honestly couldn’t find any areas where it could be improved”. The judges said that the winning factor, was how well the team worked together and were able to play to one another’s strengths and the passion behind what they were saying.
So overall a heartening performance and a real reminder of what an excellent way into the business an apprenticeship is. Wiltshire Council is working with its partners this year to create over 5,600 apprenticeships across the county so this opportunity is opened up to many more young people in Wiltshire.
Speak again soon. For daily updates, discussion, personal opinion, comment or just to connect or keep in touch you can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/drcarltonbrand.
Carlton
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Carlton Brand, Corporate Director Wiltshire Council
Dr Carlton Brand
Carlton Brand, Corporate Director Wiltshire Council
About me
Dr Carlton Brand has worked in local government since 2004 and joined Wiltshire County Council in 2007.
During Carlton’s time as Corporate Director at Wiltshire County Council he co-led the transition to the new unitary Wiltshire Council. As part of the ongoing transformation process he led on the implementation of an ambitious new business management programme utilising SAP to underpin the new organisation; the introduction of systems thinking (lean) to transform service performance for customers; and procurement reform amongst his many other corporate responsibilities. In the last couple of years he has developed a new organisation model for the council which is based on hubs and campuses, working with partners such as the Police around the community areas.
Carlton is passionate about developing future leaders and has led the development of a coaching and mentoring programme across the council in order to develop leaders and enable managers to share their skills and experience. Himself a fully accredited executive coach and leadership mentor, Carlton is a Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.
Carlton enjoys engaging and sharing ideas with partner organisations and other councils through his activities with South West Councils, SOLACE (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives) ACCE (Association of Council Chief Executives) and CCN (County Councils Network) among others.
Prior to joining Wiltshire, Carlton was Corporate Director for Resources at St Edmundsbury Borough Council in Suffolk where he led on performance improvement through systems thinking and the efficiency/cost reduction agenda in response to the Gershon review, amongst others.
For the first twenty years of his career, Carlton worked for Ford Motor Company; first as a design engineer in product development and latterly as a senior manager leading large teams of engineers on the concept, design, development and launch into manufacturing of major new model programmes such as the Ford Focus. Carlton has worked widely across Europe, the USA and Japan in many Ford and supplier engineering and manufacturing facilities.
Married with two sons he enjoys all forms of motor sport, cricket, fishing and astronomy.
During Carlton’s time as Corporate Director at Wiltshire County Council he co-led the transition to the new unitary Wiltshire Council. As part of the ongoing transformation process he led on the implementation of an ambitious new business management programme utilising SAP to underpin the new organisation; the introduction of systems thinking (lean) to transform service performance for customers; and procurement reform amongst his many other corporate responsibilities. In the last couple of years he has developed a new organisation model for the council which is based on hubs and campuses, working with partners such as the Police around the community areas.
Carlton is passionate about developing future leaders and has led the development of a coaching and mentoring programme across the council in order to develop leaders and enable managers to share their skills and experience. Himself a fully accredited executive coach and leadership mentor, Carlton is a Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.
Carlton enjoys engaging and sharing ideas with partner organisations and other councils through his activities with South West Councils, SOLACE (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives) ACCE (Association of Council Chief Executives) and CCN (County Councils Network) among others.
Prior to joining Wiltshire, Carlton was Corporate Director for Resources at St Edmundsbury Borough Council in Suffolk where he led on performance improvement through systems thinking and the efficiency/cost reduction agenda in response to the Gershon review, amongst others.
For the first twenty years of his career, Carlton worked for Ford Motor Company; first as a design engineer in product development and latterly as a senior manager leading large teams of engineers on the concept, design, development and launch into manufacturing of major new model programmes such as the Ford Focus. Carlton has worked widely across Europe, the USA and Japan in many Ford and supplier engineering and manufacturing facilities.
Married with two sons he enjoys all forms of motor sport, cricket, fishing and astronomy.
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