Launch of innovation leadership programme

The Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO) has launched an opportunity for curious and determined business leaders (large and small) to join its Innovation Leadership Programme.

BCIMO was set up to oversee the build, launch and operation of a new Very Light Rail (VLR) National Innovation Centre (VLRNIC) based in Dudley. It is currently under construction with a completion date of May 2022. The project has been enabled through funding of almost £32 million from organisations including the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (BCLEP) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The vision is to transform the UK rail industry through the creation of new and more affordable VLR solutions.

Naomi Arblaster, BCIMO’s SME Business Advisor, says its Innovation Leadership Programme, delivered in partnership with the Ideas Centre Group and Verdo, will take you on a journey like no other leadership programme, challenging embedded thinking and helping to unleash the power of creativity and drive the innovation process with a transformed mindset.

She said: “Firstly, we will help you to understand why you unconsciously think and make the decisions you do; then provide the creative learning techniques to re-programme your thinking, enabling you to lead creatively and drive the innovation process at an exhilarating pace.

“You will hear from highly experienced and motivational speakers who will help you to explore techniques that will challenge, provoke and stretch your mind, interleaved with practical coaching sessions to help you drive innovation across your organisations.”

It is now open for people to express an interest in joining the first cohort from April 2022. The programme will require eight half days of your time over a four-month period.

Programme Agenda

Session 1 – Dr David Hall – Think Again! The Strategic Role of Creativity (Key Speaker Session Wednesday 27th April 9:30-12:30pm)

Session 2 – Bankie Williams – What is ‘leading innovation’? (Leadership Coaching Session Wednesday 4th May 9:30-12:30pm)

Session 3 – Heather Wright – Understanding why people behave the way they do and how to change it! (Key Speaker Session Wednesday 18th May 9:30 – 12:30pm)

Session 4 – Bankie Williams -Are you an Agent of Change? (Leadership Coaching Session Wednesday 25th May 9:30 – 12:30pm)

Session 5 – Dr Dave Hall – Creativity Techniques Workshop (Key Speaker Session Wednesday 8th June 9:30-12:30pm)

Session 6 – Bankie Williams – Feedback (Leadership Coaching Session Wednesday 15th June 9:30 – 12:30pm)

Session 7 – Heather Wright – How to practically apply and sustain needed behavioural change (Key Speaker Session Wednesday 29th June 2022 9:30-12:30pm)

Session 8 – Bankie Williams – “If you want to go fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together” – African proverb (Leadership Coaching Session Wednesday 6th July 2022 9:30-12:30pm)

Naomi added: “All leaders talk about innovation and state that they need it, but very few organisations deliver it. If ever we needed to be thinking differently, now is the time.

“The world is changing at a rapid pace due to the accelerated rate of the adoption of digital technologies, connectivity, and data sharing and it is affecting every aspect of our economy, society, and culture.

“This constantly changing environment is bringing significant challenges to many traditional businesses and their ability to survive long-term.

“Traditional business leaders tend to be trained to think more linear and develop strategies that take them from A-B but the problem in today’s environment is that we never know what B will be by the time you get there. We need to think and do differently.”

To register your interest visit https://bcimo.co.uk/initiatives/innovative-thinking/ or email Naomi Arblaster naomi.arblaster@bcimo.co.uk to find out more.

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