Emerging Leaders programme is a global programme designed to support the Smiths Group talent management strategy to develop a globally identified pool of employees early in their current career and who could potentially fulfil a future leadership role in Smiths Group. The programme stretches over a period of a year with   three one week modular workshops.

The programme has been designed and delivered in partnership with Ashridge one of the world's leading business schools renowned for its excellence in executive education, research and consulting. It was placed in the global top 13 Business Schools in the current Financial Times rankings for Tailored Executive Education and offers a different approach to executive development and learning. Through pioneering the philosophy of practically applying leading edge business thinking, Ashridge has created some of the world's most exciting learning and development programmes.

Smiths Group is delighted to be working with them in delivering this exciting programme.

Participant Profile: A development experience for employees who:

• with little or no leadership experience
• have demonstrated some evidence of leadership type behaviours
• have been identified as potential future leaders
• are looking for a career within Smiths Group and interested in multi-site experience
• have had at least 18 months observed behaviour that reflects the above

Content: The primary focus is to stretch participants self awareness and understanding of leadership in terms of both personal effectiveness and commercial acumen so as to prepare them for potential promotion into a leadership role. The essence of its design is underpinned by the principle that for true effective leadership both qualities are inherent and inseparable.

Participants will experience a wide range of learning experiences including:

• three intensive one week workshops
• visits to businesses
• learning support groups
• mentoring
• development planning
• 360 degree & psychometric profiling
• executive director forums
• business simulations
• a Smiths-sponsored assignments

By the end of the close of the development experience participants will have:

• a very clear understanding of and will have developed their potential leadership style
• developed some techniques that they are likely to use throughout the rest of their career
• formed personal contacts across the businesses affording networking
• opportunities as they progress in their careers with Smiths Group
• had significant exposure to senior leaders throughout Smiths Group

Embedding the Learning: Participants' managers will play an important part in this programme in preparing, supporting and reviewing learning that is applied in the workplace environment.

Participants will be exposed to a wide range of language, thinking and techniques that could be unfamiliar to managers. It is therefore advised that participants' managers participate in a 3 day supporting workshop to equip them better in supporting their reports. The experience could also be viewed as a potential development opportunity for each participant's manager.

Duration: 1 year with 3 one week modular workshops

2008 Dates:

Investment
50% of the training investment for each participant is supported by Smiths Group.

The business/division's investment is £3750 per participant excluding accommodation and travel.

The cost of the managers' workshop is also being part covered by Smiths Group. The business/division's investment will be £750 per participant excluding accommodation and travel.

Programme Director: Sona Sherratt

Ongoing Learning
The Smiths Emerging Leaders Programme is in the process of being accredited. Employees, should they wish, can pursue a 3-4 year development experience leading to a Diploma and, beyond that, an MBA.

To achieve the Diploma, participants would need to complete the Emerging Leaders programme successfully and then join year 2 of the Ashridge Diploma programme to complete outstanding elements. Investment: £5500 per participant.

Successful completion of the Diploma enables access to the second year of the Ashridge Executive MBA programme. Investment £16500 per participant

• Ashridge, one of the world's leading business schools is renowned for its excellence in executive education, research and consulting.
• In the current Financial Times rankings for Tailored Executive Education, Ashridge was placed in the global top 13. It offers a combination of open programmes for individuals and tailor made programmes for organisations from both the public and private sectors.
• Ashridge offers a different approach to executive development and learning. Through pioneering the philosophy of practically applying leading edge business thinking, Ashridge has created some of the world's most exciting learning and development programmes.
• Ashridge is situated in the south of England approximately 20 miles north of London , near to Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire. London is within easy reach taking just 30 minutes by train, from Berkhamsted to London Euston and 1 hour by road. There are excellent rail and road links connecting Ashridge to both the north and the south of England . For international travellers, Luton , Stansted and Heathrow airports are within easy reach.
• The Ashridge site boasts a wealth of history dating back over 700 years. It was originally a monastery for 250 years. Ashridge then became a home to royal residents, including Henry VIII and Elizabeth I and later became the mansion of Dukes and Earls. Ashridge prides itself on the high standard of its catering, which has won numerous awards. There is always a wide choice of menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner including a vegetarian option. There is a fully licensed bar open at lunchtime and evenings. Comfortably furnished bedrooms are situated in the modern buildings, all of which are centrally heated and equipped with an en-suite bathroom.
• Ashridge has a Lifestyle Centre which includes a well-equipped gym, swimming pool, spa, sauna and steam room. Along with the excellent facilities, the lifestyle centre offers beauty and relaxation treatments as well as fitness classes. Other sporting facilities include tennis, squash and badminton courts.