KTP Associate Blog

Well, I finally handed in my Module 2 Assignment on Friday. It felt good to finally finish it and send it off to the powers that be. Although it covers the content we learn in the residential module, it’s really quite challenging to then apply all the techniques and theories to your own experiences and project. I think I would have struggled a lot more if I didn’t have my fellow KTP Associates to email and ask questions and compare theories with.

Straight after my residential module I passed my driving test, which my company had really wanted me to do, to help me be able to get to and from the University with big rolls of media unaided. It’s surprising how much easier it makes things, just being able to drive- meaning I can meet with suppliers when needed. I had put it off for so long mainly due to the cost of lessons. I already had a shared car with my partner, but there was no way I could afford the lessons on my previous salary.

The project has been picking up now, despite it being changed so heavily from the original plan, I have used my Personal Development Plan to help me adjust to the changes in my role. It is all good experience, and I already feel like I’m using a lot of the skills I learned from just one of the residential modules.

I have been working more closely with the Operations Manager and the Factory Manager, which has really improved the productivity of the project in terms of the samples we can trial, meaning we can more rapidly identify what works and what doesn’t work. We are very close to having a finished product already, although that won’t be the end of it. The MD wants a range of products because of all the different ways we have managed to manufacture the product. Each method varies in price, quality and suitability so bringing out a range means we can appeal to all our customers for different requirements. One of Sales team has already sold the product before it has even been completely finished- but I suppose that is what you get for giving samples of ‘nearly’ finished products to Sales people!

It obviously shows the product is required by our existing customer base, which confirms the purpose for the change of objectives for the project. From talking to other Associates at the residential module, it’s not unusual to have a degree of change in the project- and even from the project management unit it addresses the issue of learning to deal with change. I think there is a temptation to sit in the modules and think ‘I’m never going to use this’ but actually, you would be very surprised and how much you do use these skills in your everyday working life.

I’m actually really looking forward to my next residential module in a few weeks time. Although I keep in daily contact with people, it will be great to see everyone again.

Next time I’ll talk a bit about the LMC meetings, I’ve got my LMC2 coming up, and I know a lot of new Associates worry about it- so I’d like to put everyone at ease as they are really not that scary!

I am back from my first residential module in Edinburgh, which was really amazing! I have to admit, I was dreading it a little bit- being sent all the way to Queensferry with a load of strangers for a week. I was expecting it to be a bit like Big Brother, minus the cameras (except for the Presentations Skills bit!). In actual fact I met some really great people, had loads of fun, ate a ridiculous amount of food, and of course- learned a lot about management!

Unfortunately on my way up, my plane was delayed by 4.5hrs. I missed the first introductions part on the Sunday evening, and when I finally arrived at about 10pm, all I wanted to do was go to bed. Here is a snapshot of the luxury you can expect on a KTP residential- just look at that view of the Fourth!

Luckily, in the morning it didn’t take long for me to get around and chat to everyone. It was so great to have lots of people who were also going through the KTP thing, and meant we could compare stories, advise each other, and that was what the first morning focused on. Here is Ben and Nick making friends in the Pub- you would never guess they had only met two days before!

It became clear very early on that we have some great characters in our group, I have to give a special mention to Forest who is probably the funniest person I have ever met- without even trying to be, and I think the rest of the group would agree! I’d say fifty percent of the group are British and the other fifty are from various other cultures, and this was so great- it provided great conversation; I think I learned a lot just because of that.

The content of the course is great in the sense that there are a lot of practical activities, and the group work means you get to work with lots of different people. I found the instructors great, really friendly and helpful and I’m sure the others would agree. I particularly enjoyed the very difficult and challenging project management task- building a log cabin sounds easy; but when you really look into it you will have a whole new appreciation for construction project managers!

Admittedly we did spend most evenings in the bar/pub, and we all went into Edinburgh for a night out on the Wednesday. This being said, I have evidence that we were being worked very hard in the day- as Forest fell asleep in the Jazz Bar!

It was also great for networking- I know a couple of people got some really good contacts for their projects. Above all I think we all made some great friends, it’s a bit like those first few weeks at Uni when you get to know everyone. I was actually really sad when it came to Friday and it was time to say our goodbyes. A couple of us even managed to fit in a trip to Deep Sea World on the Friday afternoon before our flights home.

But now it is back to reality, and although I feel refreshed, there is still a lot to do. I have moved offices to be closer to the new Operations Manager- as we are working together on this project. And of course we all now have the Assignment 2 to complete within six weeks, and since I’m on holiday for one week of that, I will have to make sure I get a good head start on it! I’m definitely looking forward to the next residential in October, and I hope my project will have gained some serious momentum by then!

I’ll leave you with a picture of the whole gang in Edinburgh…