As I mentioned last week, I want to spend some time talking about the residential modules as they play such a key part in the KTP experience and are the major source of training. They are also fun and interesting.
There are 3 one week modules all in the same place and with the same people, this means that you are able to network and make a lot of friends. The group of associates who I am on my residential courses with are in constant communication with each other, whether for advice or just a chat; we have each others phone numbers, we email each other on an almost daily basis and we have a private facebook group where we can leave comments, photos and videos from the modules.
The courses themselves cover all the basics of business that you need to manage your project, and the way in which they are delivered varies hugely. There are classroom ‘lessons’ which go over the basics, and then group activities which help to demonstrate the lessons. These tasks give you a safe environment in which to practice the skills you have learnt. You are around friends and so you don’t mind if you get it wrong, as you know that when you go back to the office you will know what to do and will get it right. Most of all, the tasks are all different, good fun and in some cases a chance to make a scene of yourself as the following photo proves. This is what happened when our group was asked to film a 5 minute advert, and we required 2 housewives:
Ladies who lunch!
Even now I’m having trouble sleeping at night.
The best way to describe what the modules are all about is to give you a brief overview of the last module I attended back in September. Due to commitments the only dates I could attend were in Edinburgh, which is a bit of a journey from Cornwall but thanks to the miracles of modern transport, I was there in a little over 2 hours.
Having packed the night before, I sit waiting for my hire car to turn up. A 2 month old Vauxhall Vectra is parked outside my house and the keys are posted through the letterbox, I tell you this working life has its perks!
A quick car journey, short flight and a bus ride later and I’m back at the Queensferry Hotel ready to begin another KTP training module. Sunday night is spent catching up with the other associates, who are more like old friends than colleagues having already spent an intense training week together back in June.
The next morning we are back in the classroom after a full English breakfast. If there is one thing this hotel excels in; it’s food! A fry up in the morning, a full cooked meal for lunch and a 3 course meal in the evening every day. That’s without the cake or scones which are served mid morning and mid afternoon with tea and coffee. We all have to go on food detox for a month after every module!!
As I mentioned earlier, the days are spent as a mixture of lessons and ‘try it yourself’ activities. The lessons are delivered by trainers who are excellent at turning what could be a dull subject into something interesting and there are always real life and often amusing examples thrown in to illustrate the point. The tasks break these lessons up, always provide a laugh at some point and ensure that you are practicing the key points of the lessons; sometimes without even realising it.
The evenings are spent chilling out in the bar, letting information from the day sink in, sat in an associates room watching films and ‘I’m Alan Partridge’ or taking a run across the 4th bridge with one or two of the other associates (a mile and a half each way is no easy task after a few pints!!) We even manage to make it into Edinburgh one night to celebrate an associate’s birthday.
Part of this module involved our company and academic supervisors coming up to watch us give a presentation on the mini-project we carried out within the company. The mini project is something I will devote some time to in the next post, as again it is an important part of the KTP. This gave our supervisors chance to do some networking as well, and see how some of the other companies are running their projects. As with everything we do on the courses, there is plenty of feedback given about your performance with the presentations, including a DVD of you speaking to analyse when you have some free time. This ensures that you are always looking to improve on your abilities.
Friday afternoon is then spent saying our goodbyes to everyone, getting ready for the drive, train or flight home and looking forward to December already. And then back to the office on Monday, armed with a whole range of new skills and the confidence to use them in everyday situations. As I have mentioned before, having a chemistry degree and no experience of how a business runs, these courses are invaluable to me and my project. The courses give you all the information you need on topics like: Developing your management style, Managing financial and non-financial resources, Communication and customers, Marketing and Quality management. All things you need to be aware of and have some grounding in if you are going to be successful as a professional in any field.
Next time: As promised I will talk about the mini project. This is your first real chance to prove your worth to the company, get involved with as many departments as possible, get your name known in the company, and produce some ‘real’ results.
