News Archive

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Dr Kim Howells, The Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, has opened nominations for the 2005 STAR Awards, encouraging learners, colleagues and the general public to nominate someone they believe to be a STAR. The STAR Awards recognise and reward the unsung heroes of the learning and skills sector, including trainers, managers and support staff in HR, work-based learning, training companies and private sector learning providers.

The Minister said: "These Awards are the Oscars for the sector and recognise and reward the dedication of these STARs, so that their success can inspire others. Whilst actors and actresses, pop stars and singers are recognised regularly for their achievements, at events like the Baftas Ceremony and Brit Awards, we all now have a great opportunity to make a real difference to an unsung hero by nominating them for a STAR Award."

Anyone can nominate a STAR. To be eligible, nominees must work in the learning and skills sector, in an organisation, or an institution which is LSC funded. There are sixteen prize categories in 2005, including newly introduced awards for volunteers, teams and Subject Learning Coaches working within the sector. Winners will be chosen by an independent Judging Panel, and will receive a £2,000 cash prize, trophy and certificate. The winning team will receive a £5,000 cash prize, trophy and certificate.

Nominations can be made online at www.dfes.gov.uk/starawards, or by calling the STAR Awards Helpline on 0800 652 0528 and requesting a nomination form.

Capable and energetic person required to take on the role of Learning Advisor based in our London School. Ideally we would like to find an action learning enthusiast to develop our programmes which seek to support and inspire individuals who are setting up new organisations for social benefit.

Gill Doubleday is currently working on a project putting together a book on inspiration. She has already interviewed 2004's mastermind winner, a sculptor, a poet, and an entrepreneur, to name but a few. She would love for the world of coaching and mentoring to be included -

9 people responded to our search for a consultant and we have just had our first meeting with them, which resulted in some very exciting discussions. We aim to complete the tendering process shortly and will keep you up to date with progress.

Due to our upgrading the office to Broadband, our email address has changed. If you are still emailing us using amedoffice@btopenworld.com please note that it will no longer reach us. Please use amedoffice@btconnect.com or amedoffice@amed.org.uk, both of which should reach us safely.

The conference was held in Brussels, moving into Europe for the first time. It was a very successful event, with all places taken, and feedback from delegates has been very positive. Watch out for the full report, which will follow in AMED news. The next EMCC conference will be held on 30th November (pre-conferences), 1st and 2nd December in Switzerland.

We have invested in a new display stand which was put through its paces at the EMCC conference this year. We are really pleased with it as it attracted many people to come and talk to us and find out a bit more about what we offer.

It is an attractive stand, with lights and a sturdy carry case and we are offering members the opportunity to book the stand for any events you may be holding - free of charge, providing AMED members are offered a generous discount if they attend your event. Go onto the AMED website to have a look at the stand (under Events).

To book the stand for your event, please contact either Concepta or Debbie who will be pleased to make the necessary arrangements for you.

February Organisations & People (Volume 12: 1) is an extended issue of a dozen articles relating to Leadership and Values. It includes contributions from America, India, and Canada as well as the U.K. The printing schedule is dragging slightly so please be patient as distribution may not be until the latter end of the month. Meanwhile, the contents page can be viewed on the publications page of the AMED website.

The British public has given a phenomenal amount support to the Indian Ocean Tsunami Fund. I am writing to let your readers know about another way they can help - by donating old mobile phones and printer cartridges.

These are items which often end up in the bin, yet they have the potential to raise a massive amount of money. As a representative of Eurosource, a company which specialises in running charity recycling appeals, I want as many people as possible to know about this innovative fundraising opportunity.

Eurosource has pledged to give cash to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) for every mobile and cartridge which is recycled. As this is the umbrella organisation for various aid agencies, we feel the DEC is best placed to ensure that the funds raised go to those who need them most.

So, readers, if any of you received a new mobile phone for Christmas, I am urging you to donate it to our Tsunami Recycling Appeal. To find out what types of mobiles and cartridges we can recycle, and how much we'll give to the DEC for the items donated, visit http://www.recyclingappeal.com/tsunami

If you have a mobile phone or printer cartridge to donate, all you have to do is visit the website or call 08712 50 50 50 and ask for a freepost bag for the Tsumami Recycling Appeal - then drop your item in the post.

Robert Morton
Corporate Responsibility Executive

Redeem Plc trading as Eurosource Europe
31-37 Etna Road, Middlefield Industrial Centre
Falkirk, Scotland, FK2 9EG

Roffey Park is one of the longest established executive education providers in the UK. Since our first course in 1947 we have been researching and working with organisations to enable them to improve individual and organisational performance.

The AMED AGM combined with a group of workshops was enthusiastically attended by members on July 15 at the Friends Meeting House, Euston, London. A full write up will be in the next Newsletter but meanwhile we can report that this energetic meeting came up with some exciting ideas with actions to take forward into the coming year. Watch this space and get galvanised!!.

Comments from members attending the event:

"Thanks very much for your really positive and galvanising contribution to the day. I’m a very new member and found the day encouraging and enjoyable."
Edward Malstead

"AMED is alive and well. That is the message I brought away from the Annual Event. After a year In intensive care, the patient is raring to go: thanks to the sterling efforts of the Co-Chairs and the Council.
Bob MacKenzie and John Wilkes produced an Event that showed that AMED can still do what it has always done best: connect people and float good professional Ideas to facilitate energetic, enthusiastic and constructive conversations, All that is now required is responsiveness and feedback from us, and I have been one of the guilty ones!"
David Pearce

"It was good to attend my first AMED AGM last week and meet some fellow members, although I was sorry that more grass root members like myself were not present. It was gratifying also to hear that the financial position has been stabilised. I particularly shared the views of John Wilkes in his brief address that the outstanding task for AMED now is to engage its members and become much more of a networking organisation. Perhaps one way ahead here is the development of more special Interest groups although this would need careful thinking through to ensure relevance."
Martin Falers

AD International have released details of their programmes for 2004-5.

We are pleased to announce the upcoming two-day Complexity and Policy Analysis workshop scheduled in June (2005) in Cork, Ireland and hosted by The University College Cork Department of Government ETHOS Project (http://www.ucc.ie/acad/govt/ethos), the Institute for the Study of Coherence and Emergence (http://www.isce.edu), and Penn State - Harrisburg with the assistance of ECHO conferences (http://echo-conferences.com). The aim of this meeting is to explore the benefits to policy analysts that might be realized through the fledgling 'science' of complex systems.

To What Degree Can Complexity and/or Emergence be Effectively Managed? Using Which Indices or Indexicals? Using which Inquiries? Is Traditional Command and Control Management Incommensurable with Complexity and Emergence? If So, What Managerial Skills are Sensitive to Complexity and Emergence?

We are delighted at the enthusiastic responses we have received from people wanting to take up our opportunity for a market space. We have also received a number of offers from people wishing to facilitate mini-workshops. We'll tell you more about these in our next bulletin. The day really promises to be an event that should be worthwhile, memorable and prove how much life, diversity and creativity there is in AMED!

So, if you have not already done so, please make a date with us in your diary on 15 July, from 12 noon until 6pm, at Friends Meeting House, Euston Road London NW1 2BJ, opposite Euston mainline and underground stations.

We will be providing a free lunch (who said there was no such thing?) so we need to have an idea of numbers of people attending. Please let Concepta Wayment know that you are coming by 6 Tuesday July at amedoffice@btopenworld.com or telephone 01480 493253. If you are interested in having a little space for a demonstration or display, or are considering offering to run a mini-workshop, and have not already done so, please let Bob know, also by 6 July, at bob_mackenzie@btopenworld.com

We'll be sending you a further update about plans for 15 July nearer the time. Best wishes

Bob MacKenzie and John Wilkes

All four are committed to the vision of the 2004 International Conference On Organisational Spirituality (ICOS) to be run by The University of Surrey from, July 14 – 16, near Richmond, Surrey.

"So where do you go to be insulted?" Environmentalists need to be effective (Groucho) Marxists, to develop the skills of delivering acceptable insults.

A Debate Topic running alongside the AMED Sustainable Development Network Meeting on June 22, 3.00 - 6.00pm at The Gestalt Centre, 62 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4NA. 020 7613 4480. (Nearest tube station: Old Street.)

If you've been following the e-debate (www.amedtalk.co.uk) you'll see that Tony Emerson thinks that with urgent issues like Climate Change, where there is a disconnect between everyday lived experience and the immensity of the threat (we can't see carbon atoms, we're not obviously feeling the negative consequences of their emission), change agents should take a directive approach. He has high regard for the 'repent you sinners' approach taken by Mayer Hillman at a recent event he attended. Tony says "Note I'm making no attempt to be non-directive, facilitative, client-centred. But I think there are places for Scheinian process consultancy and the Rogerian counselling approach. This is not one-of them." Instead, Tony has invited us to consider the usefulness of 'acceptable insults'.

What do you think?

Come along to the meeting on the 22nd June and debate this with others working in this area.

There is no charge for the meeting, although those who are not AMED or SDN members are asked to donate £5.00 towards room hire costs. Please let Penny Walker know if you are intending to come along.

Penny

EHRF is a collaborative partner with AMED composed of corporate organisations throughout Europe. Members come together for seminars and conferences.

For full information see the events section or contact John Herbert at the EHRF Office on ++44 [0]1934 863
331, e-mail office@ehrf.org

Upcoming events:

June 2-4: The Strategic HR challenges at the horizon - the EHRF Lugano Forum

June 11 [afternoon]: 3rd Zurich Regional Roundtable

June 14 [afternoon]: 1st Stockholm Regional Roundtable

June 15: How to get the most out of the Core Values and the value for the business - EHRF Strategy Forum

June 30 – July 1 Holcim, Zurich ( 14h00 30 June to 15h00 on 1 July 2004) Expectations of Leadership – matching supply to the demands

Consultancy can be a lonely business. Perhaps you sometimes miss the clarity and focus of full time employment, or the stimulation and creative encouragement of your work colleagues? As consultants, you frequently have to juggle client commitments with running your own business. And finding time to win new work, develop and deliver it, whilst also attending to your professional development can be difficult.

Alison will be running a series of workshops on "Developing your Professional Practice".

The 11th European Mentoring and Coaching Conference will be held at the Hotel Bedford, rue du Midi, Brussels, Belgium on Thurs 18 - Fri 19 November 2004.

AMED has been accepted onto the Inland Revenue’s Gift Aid scheme for charities. This means that we can now reclaim the tax paid by you on every pound you give us.

To enable us to do this (and make your money go further) we only need you to sign and return this form.

The January edition of AMED News is now available for download [PDF].

How are we as individuals and our organisations stepping up to the challenges posed by diversity? Do you see advantage in truly embracing the underlying principles of diversity? How do you seek to get real ownership for change? Is legislation a spur to action or an unhelpful imposition? How do organisations help their people to "walk the talk"? Unconscious prejudice is endemic. But too often, sadly, conscious prejudice also raises its ugly head.

Full details of the 9th Eurpean Mentoring and Coaching Conference are available here

We are building up a highly targeted marketing database of HR Directors, Senior Managers, Developers, Trainers, Consultants, Marketing Directors, IT Specialists and many more in both Public and Private Sectors, all UK based. The number currently stands at 5,000 and is increasing steadily.

This database could be ideal for your own organisation's marketing needs, and is available to AMED members at a specially discounted rate.

You can buy all or specific parts of the database as a one off or multi-use mailshot, provided in a post ready label format or by email as a table ready for you to mailmerge.

Contact Allyson Hatherill on 01923 859999 to discuss your specific needs and appropriate prices.

NB: THIS OFFER DOES NOT INCLUDE AMED MEMBERS' DETAILS!

EVENT POSTPONED Bruce Nixon is running a workshop at the Open University Business School in Milton Keynes. The theme is seeing and grasping the opportunities in the big issues of our time.

Benefit from the experience of leading edge practitioners.

Towards Board Performance - Developing Boards, Directors and Top Executives
Professor Bob Garratt Author and board and director development consultant, Chair of Media Projects International and Visiting Professor at Imperial College.

The workshop will concentrate on:

• understanding the basis of effective direction-giving
• the pressures for increasing directoral accountability
• the linkage between Learning Organisations and Learning Boards
• the pressures for Board Audit and directoral appraisal

This workshop will review Bob's work over the last 25 years, starting with experience at GEC which led to the original 'The Learning Organisation' book, through his work with many boards in the UK and overseas which resulted in 'The Fish Rots From The Head'.
It will also cover the issues of implementing strategy which led to the 'Twelve Organisational Capabilities' and current work on board performance. Also "positive professionalisation" as a way of countering corruption at board level which is leading to a new book 'Thin on Top'.

The day will start with an hour's introduction by Bob. The rest of the day will focus on issues and specific problems from participants. A copy of 'The Fish Rots From The Head' will be included in the price of the masterclass. There will be a maximum number of 12 participants.

Who should attend?
Whether a seasoned director or a newcomer to the board of a public sector organisation, large organisation, family business or SME these workshops will be of interest and use.

In 2002 IoD Director Development and the Association of Management Education and Development (AMED) are jointly organising a series of workshops covering a range of topical board and development issues. The five events will be led by a group of distinguished board development experts and will be held at the IoD’s premises on Pall Mall. The workshops will provide an ideal opportunity to receive expert advice and to share knowledge with peers.

Let us know about the events you are running - there's no charge for including your event in the Members Events listing on this Website.

SMG, specialist providers of liability insurance to people based professional bodies such as CIPD, BPS and BAC have negotiated a new scheme for UK members of AMED. The annual premium is usually £260 including insurance premium tax for a limit of indemnity of £1,000,000.

This insurance is now available for £96.60 for AMED members.

This policy includes

• Professional indemnity
• Public liability
• Product liability
• Libel and slander

For a proposal form and further information please contact Natalie Hughes by email at natalie.hughes@towergate.co.uk or telephone on 0113 294 4036 saying you are a UK AMED member. Acceptance is subject to underwriters risk analysis.

Over the next few weeks you should notice a number of changes to our website - not least that we've moved to a new address.

Other changes will mean that the news and events sections will always be kept up to date, and we'll also be adding a new mailing list for members and other interested parties.