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Sep/OCT 2013

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Welc ome
... to the first edition of the new-look Ashlink, our regular newsletter for all staff. In each issue we will be keeping you up-to-date with developments at Ashridge, helping you get to know your colleagues better and sharing information about the many and varied social activities you can get involved in. We hope you like the new design and find the content useful. It is based on the feedback from the internal communications review earlier in the year, with the aim being to have a good balance of both business and social news. The overwhelming majority wanted to retain the name Ashlink so that is what we have stuck with. The plan is to publish the next edition in early December and then aim for six editions in 2014. Ashlink is intended to be a newsletter for everyone and we encourage you to provide feedback (on what you like and what can be improved), ideas and possible stories for future editions please contact the editorial team at staffnews@ashridge.org.uk

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Ashridge Update
The last few months have probably seen the most change in the shortest period of time in the history of Ashridge Business School. In common with our business school colleagues from across the globe, we are facing difficult economic times, as well as a major shift in the way business education is delivered. The reorganisation, which is now well underway, has been necessary to help us keep our competitive edge, meet client needs more effectively and not least balance our budget. 2013 has been a particularly challenging year financially, and as everyone will be aware, we have had to tighten our belts considerably. We are grateful to staff for their support in helping us identify cost savings and accepting some of the difficult decisions that have had to be made in terms of restructuring and budget cuts. Some job cuts have been a regrettable but inevitable part of the reorganisation and we are sad to have lost some valued members of staff. We have made strenuous efforts to reallocate those facing redundancy to alternative roles within the business wherever possible and to support those who have had to leave us with their future job search. The key aspects of the reorganisation are now complete. Details of the new structure can be seen in the chart on page 2. This issue also includes an introduction to one of our newly-formed teams (Executive and Organisation Development) and we will be giving you the low-down on other departments in future issues.

A good start The fine detail of some of the changes is still emerging but the good news is that we are already beginning to see benefits from our new more joined-up approach. We are winning new work some of which will have a positive effect on the bottom line for 2013. Virtual Ashridge is doing well, forward bookings for Open programmes are looking good, we are seeing a significant increase in take-up of our qualifications programmes and the results of bringing tailored and consulting together are beginning to be seen. On the House front, the events team have exceeded their targets for 2013 and have already confirmed almost a quarter of their 2014 budget. We cannot, however, rest on our laurels if we are to meet our challenging target of achieving 31M income in 2013 (while spending less than 30m). We still need to actively pursue every lead and to focus specifically on landing business that will impact on our budget for the rest of this year. Looking ahead The Ashridge Governors will meet at the end of September to review progress and look at the pipeline for the rest of 2013. At their subsequent meeting in November, they will discuss a plan and budget for 2014. We should not under-estimate the challenges that lie ahead, but we are heading in the right direction. We appreciate the way everyone has pulled together during this difficult transition to the new structure and look forward to seeing more benefits from our new more cohesive approach in the year ahead.

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CEO update

Relocation, relocation, relocation

Introducing the E&OD unit

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CEO Update

When the coffee machine in Cloisters is working, all is well with the world. When my music is playing in that miraculous bluetooth-streaming way while I have to write things at my desk, even better. From my own personal perspective, it has been a roller-coaster of a ride since we kicked off the Future Search in October last year. Change invariably creates uncertainty and concern, and much of it has been appropriately and expectedly been channelled in my direction. Ive always seen my role as a network node where information comes together and where I can hopefully make some sense of things. I dont profess to know all the answers and have no inclination for sinister plotting so Ive welcomed all of the thoughtful input, even when the volume has been considerable on occasion. From all of our collective discussions about the future of Ashridge, the line of direction quickly became clear. The practicalities of new role descriptions, fair processes and making everyone as comfortable as possible with the new structures has obviously taken a little while and is not

something we have yet fully completed. At one level up from the organisational changes, all of the financial constraints and market opportunities have also been critically important. It would be so great if we had a lot of money to use for new investments. Unfortunately we do not. Navigating between the challenges of resource constraints, the changes that are taking place at Ashridge, and delivering the best possible new services to our clients is a constant balancing act which can feel like being between a rock and a hard place on occasion. I know that not everything has gone swimmingly and that there have been people hurt and tasks not completed as quickly as possible. Apologies for that. For my sins, Ive been up at Ashridge best guess here about 30 weekend days so far this year and have taken only a sliver of a new moon of a vacation. It has been pretty full on and even with all of this, there have not been enough hours in the day. More than one person has come along to me and has said: Kai I would not want your job right now. Bless.

The huge amount of progress in a short period has however been great to see. I try and look on the bright side of life and adhere to Benthams philosophy of greatest good for the greatest number and Aristotles do no harm. In the midst of all of the 2013 action, Ive been very pleased that a book that I had been working on with Kurt April, an Ashridge Fellow, and Julia Kukard, called Steward Leadership has come out on the University of Cape Town Press. The cover is green. It is not about managing a Scottish family called the Stewards. Its an attempt to write about how to balance all of the different stakeholders in todays business environment in order to ensure sustainability in the broad sense. I think it is not too bad Id like to close this short piece simply by thanking everyone for having the faith to stick along for the ride and make things work. Id like especially to thank those of you who come around every now and then and pat me on the head on the more manic days. It means a lot. Best wishes, Kai

Relocation, relocation, relocation


The past month has seen much activity around the corridors at Ashridge as many teams have upped sticks and moved to new locations. Thanks are particularly due to Ian Downie and Debbie Gronert for co-ordinating this major project and for the Venue Services, Maintenance and IT teams who have been humping boxes, moving furniture and generally helping people settle in to their new homes. For those who are still trying to work out where colleagues have gone... heres a guide which will get you up-to-date with whos moved where. Business Development and Legal Fairhaven 1st Floor E&OD Directors Fairhaven 1st Floor Offices Faculty Office and HR Office Coach House 1st Floor (C&E) Common Room Coach House Foyer Consultant/Faculty Offices Lazell Ground and 1st Floor Academic Partnerships Lazell Ground Floor E&OD Co-ordinators Coach House Ground Floor (with storage on Mezz) Consultant/Faculty Flexible Space Coach House Ground Floor Conference and Events Main House Mezz North Research Assistants Main House Research Office Design Studio Coronation Walk AMOC Team Fairhaven 1st Floor Psychometrics Coach House top floor Qualification Marketing Fairhaven Ground floor swap with Quality

Introducing The Executive and Organisation


Development unit
Executive and Organisation Development (E&OD) is the new business unit that is made up of the combined Tailored Programmes and Ashridge Consulting businesses. The unit has had a lot to do in the few months since its official coming-together. It is delivering existing business while growing the business to meet challenging financial targets for 2013 and to create a strong foundation for the future. At the same time, the leadership team has been defining a clear purpose for the unit, looking at how it can integrate most effectively with other parts of Ashridge. It is now putting together a strategy for 2014 and beyond. The two groups of coordinators within the unit are also coming together and integrating into a single team while physically moving office! Whos who in the E&OD Leadership Team? The E&OD team is led by Executive Director James Moncrieff. Other members of the units leadership team include: Brian Worsfold, Business Performance Director, with responsibility for managing the units financial performance and developing public sector business. Sona Sherratt and Stefan Wills Business Directors, each of whom will manage one of the units focused business lines. Andy Copeland as Service Development Manager will develop the application of technology across programmes and projects and take responsibility for developing the quality of materials. What is the units purpose? In common with other parts of Ashridge, E&ODs fundamental purpose, is to develop individuals, teams and organisations, both for their own benefit, and for the good of society. It fulfils this purpose through custom programmes and consulting projects. It is responsible for delivering profitable, high quality custom programmes and consulting projects. The strategy The initial strategy is to identify the key target market segments that play to Ashridges strengths and where there is potential for growth. After many meetings and conversations with faculty, consultants and business development colleagues, four focus areas have been identified. All four areas offer real potential for Ashridge to make a difference. The current focus areas are: Developing leaders led by Stefan Wills and aimed at specialists and functional managers who need to step up to becoming leaders. Developing high potentials led by Sona Sherratt and aimed at managers who have been identified as having the potential to develop towards senior executive roles within their organisations. Developing senior executives aimed at board members and directors, and their equivalents across different organisations and geographies. Organisational consulting aimed at supporting clients whose primary needs are for the development of their organisation rather than the development of specific individuals within it. Says James Moncrieff: This is an exciting time for me to see Tailored and Consulting come together like this. We are unique among business schools in our capability to do both executive and organisation development simultaneously. The combination of these businesses gives us the opportunity to capitalise on this resource and to differentiate ourselves more effectively in a crowded market.

James Moncrieff

Brian Worsfold

Sona Sherratt

Stefan Wills

Andy Copeland

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Ashridge Altogether

Client News

Are you on Yammer yet?

Introducing the Staff Network

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Ashridge Altogether
Colleagues from around Ashridge pitched in for a series of invigorating outdoor learning sessions run over the summer by Ang Jowitt and Rachel Sceats of the experiential learning team. Ashridge Altogether was a chance to meet up with other colleagues and take part in problem-solving tasks with those you might not get to work with very often in your day-to-day role. The sessions offered an opportunity to learn a bit more about working effectively in teams and to get to know each other better. In the first exercise, participants developed trust by engaging in some gentle trust falls supported by colleagues. Through this the team developed sufficient trust to traverse along a wire cable, requiring them to work as one team, communicating effectively and coaching and supporting one another. Other challenges included a blindfold communication task and one that involved moving dangerous chemicals (it was actually water!) across an imaginary ravine. The group had a choice of tasks, some of which were physical and off-ground, but others were thinking tasks where feet stayed on terra firma. The groups had plenty of choice about what they did according to their comfort zone, and it was all very relaxed and flexible. Anj Jowitt came up with the idea for the sessions. She said: We were at one of the meetings hosted by Vicki, James and Lindsey. Part of the very clear message they were conveying was that they want to encourage staff to think of ways to getting to know each other better. Sitting there listening to them speak, an idea was born. How do we do this with our clients? Experiential learning of course! We suggested it to Vicki, James and Lindsey and they liked the idea. So, a team huddle between myself, Rachel Sceats and Jan Rabbetts ensued and we came up with the concept of Ashridge Altogether. Anj went on to say: We are aware that the dates offered in August probably conflicted with a lot of peoples annual holidays, so our plan is to run more of these events in future. We would encourage staff at all levels to support this as much as possible when we run them again.

Client News

New health and social care network

Ashridge has established a new network to support organisations responsible for delivering change within health and social care. The Ashridge Health and Wellbeing Connection was launched after a successful business development workshop attended by 40 health and social care leaders earlier this year. It is a learning by doing network, designed to support the spread of best practice in the commissioning and provision of health and wellbeing services. This new service will use action research to encourage managers to reflect on their leadership journey and to help members explore how local health and social care systems can be improved. At the heart of the wider network is openness to share and learn from each other to help resolve some of the toughest challenges facing health and social care professionals today. The network will draw on Ashridges extensive research and expertise in this sector and has been developed in recognition of the fact that a growing part of our business is focused on supporting managers who are working to resolve the critical challenges in public life. Clients will be charged an annual fee to take advantage of the service. If you have any contacts who may be interested in taking part or you would like to find out more, contact Danny Chesterman, Business Director, email: danny.chesterman@ashridge.org.uk or tel: 07860 414207.

Are you on Yammer yet?


Yammer is an internal networking system which has been brought in to replace Ashridges Intranet. 288 staff have already signed up and are benefitting from its many features. The decision to introduce Yammer has been made as part of a wider IT strategy which will see the eventual phasing out of Lotus Notes and Domino. Feedback from early users has shown, however, that it has great potential to improve communication and collaboration across Ashridge. How does it work? Getting started on Yammer is easy. You simply sign up (http:// www.yammer.com/ashridge.org.uk) and create a profile and youre ready to start using it straight away. Many departments have already created groups where team members can share documents, exchange ideas and chat about ongoing projects. Users are not, however, restricted to their own departments group. You can join other groups too so that you can keep up with news from other teams, contribute to discussions on issues that interest you and collaborate with colleagues on cross-Ashridge projects.

Introducing

The Staff Network


Alan Newell 1395 IS&T Andy Plumbly 1060 Executive Office Ben Facey 1055 F&B

Were delighted to share with you news of our new Staff Network. We have not just changed the name from the Staff Forum, but have worked to design a new body that will support and represent all staff in a more collaborative and equal way. Key changes are: Reps are reps for the whole of Ashridge, not just their own department. This means that any member of staff can approach any rep to raise an issue. This could be the rep located in the area in which the issue has arisen but also gives staff more access to reps and should help cross departmental boundaries. Were going to try and address issues locally where possible all reps are empowered to work with staff to do this. Effective and timely communication is key to the success of Staff Network. Therefore although formal quarterly meetings will still be held, Staff Network will hold informal meetings as and when needed so that current issues can be raised, addressed and responded to. Key messages and action points will be distributed by reps through the new Yammer Staff Network Group. Staff Network will be kept informed of staff movements i.e. starters/ leavers/transfers. The idea is that reps will take responsibility for saying Hi to new people, and to explain the purpose of the Network and how it works. At Network meetings we will share new developments and successes. This wont be formal but conversational. Anyone can join the meetings. Please join us in making Staff Network a valuable and enjoyable part of Ashridge. If you need any more information, or would like to get involved, please speak to one of the reps pictured here.

David Cowley 1314 Faculty

Elaine Harmsworth 1042 Gardens

Gordon Pattinson 1049 Maintenance

Ian Birthwright 1013 IS&T

Jackie Carter 1286 Corporate Bus. Dev

Jean Klotz 1248 Conference and Events

Jess Hills 1012 Learning Services

Jude Karnon 1427 Corp Comms

Judith Parsons 1380 Faculty

There are also social groups where you can continue to post messages about events and activities, ask for recommendations or offer items for sale. There is also a facility to send private messages to colleagues, which some teams are beginning to experiment with. What about databases and forms? Some of the standard databases and forms (ie. the environmental management system) will continue to be accessed via the Intranet, although you will find a link on Yammer where you can click straight through. You might want to think about making Yammer your home page, so that all the information you need is at your fingertips, alongside all the latest discussions. Still not sure? ITs Matt Woodland has already started a programme of short training sessions designed to get everyone up-to-speed with Yammer as quickly as possible. Contact Matt for more details about the schedule or if you have any questions about the change-over. Contact Matt at matt.woodland@ashridge.org.uk

Kai Peters 1041 Executive Office

Maggie Moore 1077 Transport

Neil Molnar-Brown 1059 IS&T

Pat Turner 2000 Reception

Patricia Hind 1400 Faculty

Rachel Sceats 1437 Experiential Learning

Sue Jabbar 1304 E&OD

Trudi West 1089 Research

Ursula Dwyer 1481 HR

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Marketplace success

Award success

Five minutes with...

The Register

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Marketplace success
The Marketplace event, which was staged at the end of July, was an event that truly captured the spirit of Ashridge. It provided a platform for virtually every business and service area of Ashridge to showcase its offerings and talents in a creative and interactive way. There were as 32 stall holders, all trying their hand to attract the attention of fellow workers and to enable them to know and understand more about other departments. The event was also great fun. There were the appetising cocktails offered by F&B, the firing range on the Open stand, and fishing for a duck on the Qualifications stall. There were also some skill tests, to highlight what others do on a daily basis, such as a cooking an omelette, making a button-hole or fixing a bathroom tile. Kerrie Fleming, who was recently appointed as the new Director of The Ashridge Leadership Centre, initiated the whole project which was then taken forward by a steering committee that promoted and ran the event with aplomb. The steering committee was Helen Lockett, Karen Moyle, Nigel Bradshaw, Roy Lunnon and Dan Turney. Kerrie said: The idea for the Marketplace came about from a concept we use within our tailored executive education programmes, especially with large international clients who have many business units specialising in different areas across their business. We felt it would help to fill some of the gaps people have in their knowledge about people and functions within Ashridge and could both encourage collaboration and reduce duplication. The final event exceeded all expectations and really captured the heartland of what Ashridge is all about, which is its people. There was a huge knowledge transfer and a depth of understanding of the intricacies of each business unit. I was delighted to be a part of it and was touched by the efforts people went to during such challenging times in our business. I would like to thank everyone for making it such a success. It made me very happy to be part of a community which has such pride in what it does to ensure the Ashridge experience is such a good one for our clients, visitors and employees.

Award successes
DB Schenker DB Schenker Logistics and Ashridge were highly commended in the EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development) awards for their case study on transforming individual lives and organisational culture for a sustainable future. The case study tells the story of the International Leadership Programme a 14-year collaboration which continues to have a far-reaching impact within DB Schenker Logistics. The programme, which was directed by Stefan Wills, is a great example of how leadership development within an organisation can deliver a significant return on investment. If youd like more information or to read the award entry, which was put together by Fran Montague together with Stefan, contact fran.montague@ashridge.org.uk SABMiller Ashridge has also been shortlisted, together with SABMiller, in the Best Practice in Learning Transfer category of the 2013 Training Journal awards. The entry, which features the SABMiller European Management Development programme, shows what can be done on a very practical level to maximise the learning transfer and organisational impact of leadership development. The winner will be announced in November. For more information or to read the submission, contact Fran Montague or Sona Sherratt (sona.sherratt@ashridge.org.uk), who put together the entry.

Five minutes with.. Ryan Carrington


Job title Venue Services team member Where do you come from originally and where do you live now? South London originally, I now live in Tring. So what do you actually do? Security, First Aid. Preparations for events, conferences, weddings and any other jobs which are required of us. What gets you out of bed in the morning (i.e. what do you love about working here)? The team. Your fantasy career (i.e. if I wasnt working at Ashridge I would be......) Dog handler in the Police force. Whats currently on your iPod/CD player? Now Thats What I Call Reggae is currently in my car CD player. Your favourite film, book or quotation? Favourite film has to be Forest Gump! Tell us something about you most Ashridge colleagues wouldnt know. I used to be a chef. How do you spend your spare time? My spare time usually involves me volunteering as a Special Constable, very different to my day job. Who would you least like to get stuck in a lift with? Jeff! From our team, there are only so many bad jokes I can listen to. (Only joking Jeff!)

The Register
Our regular slot where we welcome new faces and say goodbye to colleagues who have left Ashridge for pastures new.

Joiners since 1 July

Scott Hansen, Commis Chef, joined 1 July Kacie Sugrue, Qualifications, joined 1 July Andie Callaghan, Ashridge House Commercial Analyst, joined 1 July Tsheli Lujabe, Faculty, joined 5 August Olga Ashcheulova, Housekeeping, joined 12 August Clive Rawlings, Design and Print manager, joined 2 September.

Leavers since 1 July


Fiona Dent, Faculty, left 31 July

Shadi Kelly, Qualifications, left 7 July Sally Smith, Hospitality Admin, left 12 July Derrick Barnes, Transport, left 19 July Chris Shaw, Housekeeping, left 31 July Gareth Cox, IS&T, 31 July George Caldwell-Nichols, IS & T, left 2 August Peter Travers, Transport, left 4 August Mazz Blake, Transport, left 4 August Jim Robinson, Transport, left 4 August Clive Rochester, Transport, left 4 August Frank Dancer, Transport, left 4 August Ginny Lewis, Finance, left 12 August Amy Rose, Conferences & Events, left 13 August Tobias Smith, Commis Chef, left 16 August

Ryan C ar r ingt on

The first in a regular series of staf f prof iles designed to help you get to know some of the faces you see around Ashridge a bit better.. . .

Scott Hansen

Kacie Sugrue

Andie Callaghan

Tsheli Lujabe

Olga Ashcheulova

Clive Rawlings

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House, Gardens and Heritage

Community Heritage Orchard Takes Root

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House, Gardens and Heritage

Repton Anniversary
On 27 July, over 50 garden aficionados gathered together at Ashridge House to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Humphry Reptons Red Book for Ashridge. The first person to describe himself as a landscape gardener, Repton presented the Red Book a collection of watercolours and pencil sketches depicting his plans for the Gardens to the 7th Earl of Bridgewater in 1813. Over the two-day conference delegates heard from a distinguished panel of experts including Tom Williamson who gave a fascinating lecture on the life and work of Repton; Peter Inskip who presented on Georgian Architecture and Gothic Revival, and Richard Wheeler who spoke about the management of Ashridge Park. As part of the celebrations, the Ashridge Main Dining Room was officially renamed Repton Hall by Ashridge Governor David Pugh. A special edition of the Red Book was on display throughout the anniversary weekend.

Record breaking tour numbers


This summer saw an unprecedented number of visitors for our House and Garden tours. Daily figures averaged 100 which kept our invaluable tour guides extremely busy. As ever feedback was tremendous and over 7K was raised in entrance fees. We are always looking for more guides so if you are interested in the history of Ashridge and would like to offer your services as a guide in 2014, get in touch with Dolores Kelly on ext 1137.

2014 Conference & Wedding bookings


Having smashed their 2013 budget by July this year, the Conference and Events team are already looking ahead to 2014 with huge optimism with 23% of their 2014 budget already confirmed. David Wilmin, Business Development Manager said: We are starting to see the results of more strategic marketing and business development tactics that have been put in place in the last few months and so anticipate healthy growth in the coming months.

Dining at Ashridge
Autumn sees the launch of our new dining offering a bi-monthly event that will include a House tour followed by a menu of contemporary food and complementary wines from across the globe. We kick-started the new season with a Mediterranean-themed evening on September 13, which will be followed by a South American influenced dining event in November. See www.ashridgehouse.org.uk for future dates.

Community Sustainability Heritage Orchard Takes Root

butterflies, moths and bats, and using the wildlife and biodiversity we have in the Gardens as a learning resource for visitors. As orchards are great habitats for insects and other wildlife, the tree planting will also boost our biodiversity. Of course, fruit is also a delicious food source for humans. Once the trees are established and fruiting in three or four years time, the apples, pears and cherries can be harvested and used by the Ashridge kitchens. Children from local primary schools and the Hemel Scouts are set to get involved in the planting of historic local varieties of apples, pears and cherries in November, as part of their learning about food, wildlife and biodiversity. The orchard will then remain a resource available to local schools and Scout groups for learning events in the years to come. Mick Thompson added: This initiative will also strengthen Ashridges bond with the local community. The re-planting of the orchard is about improving the quality of life for our communities, as well as the environment we live in. The Sustainability Committee also plans to organise an Apple Day event for visitors in October as part of the Tring Apple Fayre.

Thanks to funding from the UK Tree Council, Ashridge is set to plant a community heritage orchard during National Tree Week, the UKs largest annual tree celebration, in November. A recent review of Ashridge Gardens maps from 1898 and 1924 revealed that an area was previously planted as an orchard. Now, the new funding will enable Ashridges Sustainability Committee to recreate the traditional English orchard, and further restore the rich heritage of the Gardens. 60 trees will be planted in an area south of the Moat. Mick Thompson, Ashridges Gardens Manager, said: This new funding will help us to restore the Gardens to their former glory. We plan to replant the orchard with local heritage varieties to maintain its historical accuracy. One of our sustainability focus areas is improving habitats in the gardens for priority species like bees,

Restoration of the Garden at Ashridge


The new programme of garden restoration, set out in our 2011 landscape conservation plan, has been underway for some time now with three projects the Rhododendron Walk in the south garden, the Souterrein in Humphry Reptons Pleasure Grounds and the ornate wrought iron fencing on the north front of the house. In this issue of Ashlink we look at the plans for the Rhododendron Walk. Watch this space in the next edition for an update on the other projects. The Rhododendron Walk The rhododendrons line much of the inner side of the 400 metre Wellingtonia Avenue and were planted in the late 19th century. Pontium rootstocks (a type of rhododendron) have taken hold and need to be removed and replaced with a hardier species. The Gardens Team began grubbing out the rear section of the Walk earlier this year ready to re-plant this coming season. Full restoration will take three years and we are going to need 780 rhododendrons. We intend using late Victorian and early and late 20th century varieties which will offer a range of spectacular colours, flowers and larger leaved species. Ken Cox of Glendoick Nurseries in Perth, whose breeding programme has produced many of the worlds best rhododendrons over the past 40 years says: This restoration at Ashridge has the potential to be one of the great rhododendron plantings in the UK. The cost of plants will be some 14,000 and we have launched An Invitation to Sponsor a Rhododendron for anyone wishing to support the project. For more details visit www.ashridge.org.uk/ gardenrestoration or email mick.thompson@ashridge.org.uk

ASSAC
Family Fun Day Raises Hundreds for Local Charities

The Annual Ashridge Staff Social Activities Club (ASSAC) Family Fun Day, which took place in the gardens on 4 August, raised over 730 for local charities. Over 200 members of staff, their families and local residents flocked to Ashridge to attend the action-packed day. Activities included a bouncy castle, face painting, coconut shy and hook a duck. A range of original craft stalls selling jewellery, designer bags and pens were on-site and Zumba and hooping dance displays and Irish dancing entertained attendees. Danee Miller, Design and Print, Corporate Communications, won the cake decorating competition, with her original bee-themed hive-cake. Pat Wartnaby, ASSAC Treasurer and Corporate Communications team member, said: Many staff made cakes or gave up time to help make the event a great success. A massive thanks goes out to all those who took part and contributed. 410 of the money raised by the fun day will go towards Hospice of St Francis, Berkhamsted, which cares for patients with a wide range of life threatening illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, lung disease and neurological illness. A tombola run during the event by Nicola Merriman of Food and Beverage also raised 320 for the CRY (Cardiac risk in the Young) Foundation.

Nicola suddenly lost her son Richard in July last year, aged only 27, when he was struck by a sudden cardiac death while out playing football, just eight weeks before he was due to be married. Since then, she has led a fundraising campaign on behalf of CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) to raise funds for a team, run by CRY, to screen people at a local venue, to help reduce the risk of more lives being lost in this way. Nicola is already over half way to her goal having raised more than 4000 of the 8000 needed. She said: It was devastating to lose our son Richard when he was so young and had so much of life ahead of him, but if we can help save lives locally by providing screening for young people, it will provide a lasting legacy. She has been supported by family and friends, her work colleagues at Ashridge House, and donations from many local businesses and individuals. The next fundraising event will be a Zumbathon in Hemel Hempstad in October. To donate to Nicolas campaign, visit: www.c-r-y.org.uk/donate and specify that your donation is for the Richard Merriman Memorial Fund. To see further photos of the day, please contact Rob Machin.

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Inspiring the future

ASSAC

Whats on when

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Sustainability

Inspiring the Future


Since 2012 Ayeisha Russell from the Research team has been delivering presentations and co-ordinating careers sessions for Inspiring the Future, a national organisation which seeks to make a difference by raising aspirations and helping young people make informed choices about jobs and careers. Working alongside professionals from an array of fields from interior design to management consulting, Ayeisha has given advice on CV and interview skills and shared her insights on careers in research and executive education with more than 150 students. As part of the most recent event at Preston Manor School in Wembley, called Women cant What!?, over 100 students interviewed Ayeisha and other volunteers to find out about their personal career paths and challenges. They used the information to produce their own career resources in the form of posters

on each profession. As well as developing careers knowledge, the project gave students the chance to develop their communication, prioritisation, negotiation and team-working skills. Recent Ashridge research into Generation Y suggests that developing work skills like these are important for graduates starting in the workplace. Both groups of students were curious about working in a Business School and in particular how psychological knowledge is used to help people learn, says Ayeisha. I found being able to contribute to the success of the next generation of working professionals an enriching experience and was delighted that my group of students received an award for the group which displayed the best teamwork. Inspire the Future needs more volunteers to provide learning opportunities for young people at a critical stage in their career development. For more information visit their website www.inspiringthefuture.org.

ASSAC

Update from the Chair

Channel swim
You have to be made of strong stuff to swim the English Channel with its strong currents, jelly fish en masse, various detritus and the fact that it is one of the busiest shipping channels in the world. Thats why Jude Karnon (Corporate Comms) and Jess Hills (Virtual Ashridge) decided to take up the challenge in the comfort of the TLC pool. We needed to get back on track as our time in the pool was becoming more about chatting and less about swimming so this was perfect, says Jude. It took us 24 visits to the pool to complete the 22 miles. We both felt really proud to achieve the swim and are totally in awe of people who swim the Channel in a day. We are continuing with the challenges by swimming the equivalent of other bodies of water with the Dead Sea, Lake Geneva and the Panama Canal in our sights.

The Ashridge Staff Social Activities Club (ASSAC) aims to encourage employee engagement throughout the organisation. A social club can help motivate employees, and offers staff the chance to de-stress through getting together socially. Plus, it is widely acknowledged that happy staff help boost business performance! Committee members: Elaine Mills, Qualifications (Chair) Pat Wartnaby, Corporate Comms (Treasurer) Roy Lunnnon , Venue Services Christine Shrimpton, Executive & Organisational Development Sharon West, Corporate Comms Naomi Philp, Food & Beverage Lee OToole, Gardens Nicky Merriman, Food & Beverage Marion Turney, Housekeeping.

Get involved!

We are currently seeking new committee members. As a committee member, you would be asked to attend meetings, of which we have about four a year, depending on the number of events scheduled and items to be discussed. Committee members get involved in a variety of activities, including promoting events internally, selling tickets and helping to set up and run events. We also have a vacancy for a Committee Secretary. If you are not sure about performing a committee role, then why not consider volunteering to be a Friend of ASSAC, to be called on to help out at one of the events. If you are interested in getting involved, or finding out more, please do get in touch. Elaine Mills, ASSAC Chair Email: elaine.mills@ashridge.org.uk Ext: 1202

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Whodidit?
The smell of greasepaint and the roar of the crowd came to Ashridge in August, with the Ashridge Players latest production Whodidit? Performed over three nights to 150 staff, family, friends, clients and local people, it raised over 1000 for the Ashridge Gardens Restoration Fund, The Book Bus Foundation and Medical Detection Dogs. Entirely performed and produced by Ashridge staff, Whodidit is a comedy murder mystery, parodying an Agatha Christie play, with a extremely strange collection of characters: innuendo-obsessed Inspector Harry Story played by Bob Stilliard pipe-smoking novelist Tom Darling by Toby Roe his prissy wife Mary Darling by Pat Turner madman Able Bonecrusher by James Holland dotty maid Laura Scribbles by Jess Hills annoying cook Mrs Meals by Judy Curd a very bad tempered Uncle by Martin Scott the flamboyant and alcoholic Miss Daguerreotype by Jude Karnon.

Whats on when..
Lunchtime Learning Bites! All staff are welcome These bite-sized sessions enable staff to share their latest thinking, research or teaching practices with staff across Ashridge. 8 October, 13:00 14:00, Competing on Value: A new system for Performance Measurement, Dr Nicholas Fisher, Principal, ValueMetrics Australia and Visiting Professor, School of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Sydney 14 October, 13:00 14:00, Relational Leadership: The importance of dialogue and the other, Megan Reitz 11 November, 13:00 14:00, Creativity Applied, Dr Mark Batey, Psychometrician at Manchester Business School and Barry Shafe 26 November, 13:00 14:00, A comparison of the offshoring and outsourcing strategies in German and British multinational corporations, Anthony Mitchell 3 December, 13:00 14:00, Artful Organisations, Dr Chris Seely 18 December, 13:00 14:00, Ego Depletion and Willpower, Angela Whelan All venues will be confirmed the week before each takes place. If you would like to run a learning bite to share new ideas and get feedback from peers, or for more information contact Ayiesha Russell, Ashridge Research, tel: +44 1442 841389, Email: ayiesha.russell@ashridge.org.uk Find out more online http://bit.ly/17EdvY6 All Staff Meetings The all staff meetings are designed to update all Ashridge employees on organisation-wide objectives and performance. They also enhance and promote two-way communication among all staff. The next meeting is: 11 December, LMA Board of Governors meetings 27 September, London. 18 November, Ashridge ASSAC - Ashridge Staff and Social Activities Club ASSAC provides social activities for staff members. Any surplus left over from events is donated to local charities. 2 November, Quiz night (general knowledge), 10 per person, includes supper 8 December, Meet Father Christmas in Ashridge Gardens, 2 per child 16 December, Childrens Pantomime, 5 per adult, children **free** For more information contact Elaine Mills, ASSAC Chair: elaine.mills@ashridge.org.uk, tel: X 1202

The play was all made possible by the directional skills of Barbara Egglesfield, prompter and all-round help Anna Bosch and sound and lighting by Peter Silver, husband of Gabrielle. We do wish Peter and Gabrielle all the best for their move to Germany and need to find a way to get Peter back for our next production! The Ashridge Players try to put on a couple of performances a year, with a major production each August. The next production is the Childrens Pantomime for ASSAC in December. If you have ever wanted to tread the boards or help out backstage, please do contact one of the above. New members are always welcome.

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The new Ashridge Leadership Team

Contacts

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Whos Who

The new Ashridge Leadership Team (ALT)


ASMC Fellows Jo Whitehead & Anthony Freeling

Chief Executive

Corporate Communications Director Toby Roe Learning Services Director Tony Sheehan

Kai Peters

Andy Plumbly Chief Operations Officer


House Hospitality Director Anna Brown Facilities Manager Ian Downie Gardens Manager Mick Thompson TLC John Neal Executive Office Exec Office Manager Philippa Pearce Legal Manager Alison Greene IT Managers Infrastructure & Help Desk Matt Woodland Development Rowan Flitton Finance Finance Manager Philip Stanbury Human Resources Business Partners Ursula Dwyer, Anita Howard, Mel Thomas

Hamish Scott Director of Open Programmes


Leadership Team Paul Griffith, Colin Williams, Tony Cram, Pam Jones, Megan Reitz, Lucy Double & Lynn FawcusRobinson Sales and Marketing Team Lucy Double Programme Co-ordinators Lynn FawcusRobinson

Narendra Laljani Dean of Graduate Studies


Programme Directors Steve Seymour, Erik de Haan, Gill Coleman, Chris Nichols, Roger Delves Sales and Marketing Susan Lawrance Programme Co-ordinators Gabriele Silver Registry Joy Petticrew Research Centre Directors Matt Gitsham (ACBAS), Erik de Haan (ACC), Gill Coleman (CAL), Kerrie Fleming (ALC), Patricia Hind, Lee Waller (CRED)

Martin Lockett Dean of Academic Development


Quality Office Andrew Hyams

James Moncrieff Lindsey Masson Director of Corporate Business Development


International Markets Klaus Eckrich, Berit DaugaardFreese, Inge Wells, Rory Hendrikz, Barbara Wang Corporate Accounts BD Team Manager Corporate Business Development Gemma Fesemeyer Planning and Corporate Marketing Planning Director Jamie MacAlister Corporate Client Directors Nick Roy, Ann Knights, 1 vacancy

Vicki Culpin

Vicky Vass Dean of Academic Partnerships


Partnership Office Academic Partnership Officer Ashley Tilling Relationship Director Rachel Boxall Head of Academic Partnership Development Huw Hughes Academic Accreditation Framework Manager Chris Burke

Director of E&OD

Dean of Faculty

Business Directors Stefan Wills, Sona Sherratt, Brian Worsfold, 2 vacancies Programme Co-ordinators Operations Manager 1 vacancy Service Development Service Development Manager Andy Copeland

Faculty Office Office Manager Ann Butler Associate Operations Manager Karen Moyle Community of Practice Heads Andrew Day, Angela Whelan, Vicki Culpin Psychometrics Jayne Burch Research Office Office Manager Emma Bradbury AEL Facility Manager Angela Jowitt Faculty and Associates

Do you have a story to tell?


For the next edition of Ashlink please send your contributions and ideas by October 18 to staffnews@ashridge.org.uk
Editorial team Toby Roe, Jenny Murray, Erika Lucas

For full details of business events please visit: www.ashridge.org.uk/events For further information on ASSAC events please see the notice board in the Staff Hall or contact an ASSAC member.

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