Horizons is a two year development programme for graduates and those early in their career. It brings together participants from businesses across the Smiths Group so encouraging employees to establish a network of contacts across the Group. With this comes an unrivalled opportunity to establish a great overview of the Smiths Group so ensuring that all that join us can see the limitless opportunities beyond that of the business they have first chosen to join.

Content: It is a highly innovative programme in its design and focuses on developing participants understanding of the Smiths Group, the business world in general, participants personal effectiveness as an individual and as a team member through a wide variety of related activities. It aims to generate a strong sense of belonging to the Smiths Group whilst also catering for and maximising on the relationships with each of the business divisions. Events are supported by senior leaders from across the Smiths Group who are always keen to participate fully in the events.

Whilst not designed directly as a leadership programme it indirectly raises awareness of leadership skills and styles and establishes an appreciation of the principle of learning in a business environment and furnishes them with the basic skills of continuous learning.

Learning Approach: The two year programme takes a journey through a wide range of interweaved development experiences from workshops, outdoor development, internal and external site visits, mentoring, action learning sets, project work, development planning. Events are held at a wide range of locations from conference centre type environments right through to self catering where participants have the opportunity to build relationships with managers in an informal environment.

Participants are encouraged to keep a learning journal to review their learning as they advance through the programme. This journal is an electronic tool where participants can download photographs, video clips and handouts to build their personal memory and record.

The participants managers, mentors and HR Business Partners play an important part in this programme by not only supporting attendance and reviewing learning applied back into the workplace but by also participating in events throughout the two years. All supporting managers are invited to a launch workshop at the beginning of the programme, a one year review and launch of the second part of the programme and also a programme closure workshop.

The programme has its own website where all the details of the programmes are kept. Participants, their managers and their mentor can check at any time dates, locations, directions, refer back to handouts, download photographs, make an enquiry direct to facilitators or the administrators of the programme.

The programme is facilitated by a team of three training professional who each bring very different and special skills. Their aim to creative a secure but challenging learning environment and guide participants from a highly facilitated learning approach to that where they are operating effectively in learning teams and developing their ability to manage and support one another in their own learning goals and paths.

Duration: 2 years

Investment: £8,000 inclusive of all tuition fees, materials and accommodation.

Programme Directors: Alex Hill, Ian Pitchford and Sona Sherratt

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