There is a unique opportunity for leaders from towns and cities surrounding the Thames Gateway to ensure that they are not left behind as Europe's largest regeneration project invests £9 billion into the region. It is a chance for leaders from Brighton, Essex, Kent, Suffolk and Surrey to come together and consider how their areas can also benefit from the recently announced Thames Gateway Delivery Plan and to look at the other big issues facing these areas and examine how they interconnect.
Common Purpose InsideOUT is an innovative new programme that will provide this creative forum. Run by leadership development organisation Common Purpose, participants will be taken to a diverse range of locations within the region where they will meet its key figures. This will help them gain a deeper understanding of how their localities work, the role of different sectors and the levers of power in them, as well as a broader understanding of the drivers of the London economy and how these can work to local advantage.
They will also gain access to a more extensive and diverse network of relationships with their peers and key figures locally and more widely who they can learn from and work together with. Through this, they will learn how to spot opportunities and expand their influence in their locality as well as in the wider area.
Being able to spot regional, national and international opportunities and knowing how to channel them for local impact was one of the main skills that Harvey Guntrip, Director of Crystal Energy in Kent and a Non-Executive Director of Bromley Primary Care Trust learnt on a Common Purpose programme: “It gave me a view of the Thames Gateway that enabled me to start three new businesses and expand into Europe and Sub Saharan Africa.”
Alex Geldart, the Common Purpose Regional Director emphasises the need for this knowledge and ability: “We often hear that leaders are facing very similar challenges and problems across these areas, so even if you don’t need to build a network in your local area, there may still be people that can help you find the solutions to your leadership challenges. Nobody can afford to operate in isolation - regional influences don’t happen in a vacuum, increasingly have more impact on local areas. It is important that people can see the complete picture and where they can, use this to their advantage locally.”
InsideOUT begins in March, anyone who would like to be involved should contact Common Purpose on 01622 605778.
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For further information please contact:
• Una Farrell, Communications Officer, Common Purpose, on 020 7608 8122 or at una.farrell@commonpurpose.org.uk
Notes for Editors:
• Common Purpose is an independent leadership organisation that aims to improve the way organisations and society work. Common Purpose operates throughout the UK and worldwide in Ireland, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, South Africa and Germany. For further information visit www.commonpurpose.org.uk