Ali Stewart has been working with the Meningitis Trust for over two years designing and delivering an innovative development programme. Such was the success of this programme that they decided to enter the 2011 National Training Awards. Ali helped the trust to write the bid and went with them as a member of their team when they were called before the judging panel.
This is what the panel had to say:
“The Judges deemed that your entry demonstrated both outstanding and exceptional business achievement and organisational development made through training and as a result have selected you as the winner of the 2011 National Training Award South West Small Employer Category”
The Meningitis Trust is now one of 11 possible entrants across the country, in this category, who will compete for the title of National Training Award Winner of the Year at a ceremony at ExCel, London in Oct 11.
So how did the Meningitis Trust, with Ali Stewart’s support, get to this exciting place?
The Meningitis Trust is the only charity in the UK focussed on supporting people affected by meningitis. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2011, the Trust supports over 20,000 people a year through its professional services and community based support – helping people to rebuild their lives after meningitis strikes. The Trust has a team of nearly 50 staff, a third of whom are based in the community throughout the UK.
About the Programme:
In 2007/8, with a new chief executive in place, the Trust was an organisation with a low profile needing a dramatic turnaround in all areas of its service to better support people affected by meningitis. Working with the leaders, Ali designed and delivered a modular organisational wide development programme, based on Insights Discovery, Leading & Developing High Performance and The Self Directing Professional, to improve capability and staff retention and create the organisational culture change needed. All staff went through the programme over a period of 2 years.
The impact has been phenomenal, exceeding aspirations, including:
- Staff turnover halved
- Absenteeism rates cut by 1/3
- Retention at all time high with 92% of staff having over 12 months service, compared with 79% three years ago
- Recruitment expenditure dropped by 75%
- PR coverage increased by 60% and the Communications Team won CIPR West of England Pride Award in late 2009 for Outstanding in-house PR team
- Our supporters nominated us and we won a Local Heroes Award
- Our core services are supporting 20% more people than before without any increase in cost
- We have established a major donor programme due to increased confidence and knowledge-base in the organisation
All staff have an Insights Discovery Personal Profile, some have a Discovery Full Circle profile, new staff are inducted with group or 1-to-1 sessions. Discovery is the fundamental basis for driving the organisation culture change, with very specific skill building in leadership and personal effectiveness, across the board.
Now 18 months on, Ali Stewart & Co have nearly completed the second phase of development – the People & Customer Service Programme – which has the help of an expert training delivery team. The Insights Discovery model is still the underpinning basis for every session and staff use their profiles at every event.
On 21 Sep there will be a regional award ceremony in Stroud, with a member of the judging panel, an MP, the Trustees and all staff present.
For more information about this intervention please see the Leading & Developing High Performance case study for the Meningitis Trust
