New Team in New York

Continuing the team development and relationship awareness support to Misys management teams, Toojays were recently in New York, USA.

Delivering a one day development workshop to Edward Ho, Executive Vice President & General Manager Treasury & Capital Markets and his team, Lee Martin MD of Toojays was able to enhance the newly formed teams awareness of their strengths and development areas.

Team members commented on the insight that the SDI model had given them. Individuals expalined powerful it was in understanding interactions and motivations of others, reducing conflict and looking at was to influence key relationships.

The intense one day session help the team to identify key aspects of its dynamics as well as giving a framework for positioning its strategy to key partners.

Development in Dubai

Toojays MD, Lee Martin and Facilitator Jon Pulford were in Dubai last week supporting Misys MEA Sales and Professional Service teams.

Over the four days they were there they delivered Team Development and SDI-Relationship Awareness workshops as well as facilitating a meeting with the Executive Management Team.

The interactive sessions were well received by all attendees and enabled individuals and teams to focus on their relationships and performance.

Solid foundation at the Castle

Toojays HR Consultancy has recently started to provide HR & Personnel Support for the Duke of Rutland and the Belvoir Castle Estate.

The Estate, who employ approximately 60 people is currently reviewing it's internal operations under the guidence of Chief Executive, Donald Lambert.

As part of this review Toojays have been asked to work in partnership with the Estate and provide HR and Personnel support.

Sharn Crane, Toojays lead HR Consultant has started work at the Castle and liasing with Donald is providing ongoing support, ensuring that the Estate is up to date with all Employment legislation and HR issues.

Contracts, personnel files and all HR documentation is being reviewed to ensure a consistent, user friendly approach that will provide a common foundation going forward.

Caterpillar roll on!

Toojays were delighted to support Caterpillar UK Shared Services Conference in Peterborough earlier this month.



The event was held to help individuals and teams focus on their strategy for 2008 and beyond with a the focus on "it's a marathon not a sprint" - in terms of customer relationship and service.



On the day the attendees listened to key note speakers emphasising the importance of the organisations values.



Toojays provided further opportunity for individuals to 'live' those values and experience the behaviours needed for successful goal achievement with the company.

Led by Toojays facilitator Jon Pulford, the teams were tasked with completing the 'Rollerball' exercise.


Lisa Young, UK Learning and Development Manager commented 'I think there is great potential in this exercise helping us teach process improvement.'

Steering Group lead the way

The Senior Team of John Lewis Peterborough Branch held a team development day facilitated by Toojays last week.

The Steering Group wanted to experience the Bramley Lakes venue ahead of their Departmental Managers event later in February, but also wanted to take the opportunity to review and enhance their own performance and strategy ahead of the coming financial year.

A series of practical challenges together with some thought provoking facilitation by Toojays MD, Lee Martin enabled the group to come away with some key learning and practical impact.

Toojays were recently involved in working with Misys's Guy Harris, VP of Sales (Banking) and his team.

Guy was keen for his team to look at their working relationships with each other and their key stakeholders. Having previously been part of the Toojays SDI event with the Executive team Guy felt that his immediate team would benefit from the process as well.

As one of the team commented ' The event added real value and opened up our eyes to the interactions we have'.

HR building support

Toojays HR Consultancy services continue to grow and provide support to SME's. Recently we have been delighted to work with two leading construction industries company's, Premier Groundworks Ltd and Carpentry Management Consultancy Ltd.

Providing support and advice on job descriptions, employment contracts, staff handbooks, performance management, recruitment advice and employment law updates we have helped to ensure the company's are well equipped to manage their employee responsibilites and remain compliant with current legislation.

S&N reach new heights

In the last of the three International Graduate Scheme development workshops for the 2006 intake, the Graduate group came to Bramley Lakes Learning & Development Centre.

The workshop focused on Change Management and delegates were put through a series of activities and challenges that stretched their comfort zones and increased their awareness of the emotional processes each experience during change.

The outdoor activities were enhanced by classroom reflection and theory based sessions which further embedded the learning and explored practical application.

"I enjoyed the sessions we had on the change models as this will be most relevant to me in my daily working life. I can see how change affects both a company as a whole and an individual in the same way and in order to make the most of any inevitable change, it is good to see the steps that we go through and to understand how to use these to our advantage." - James Lucas, IGP Graduate.

Misys on board

Toojays is delighted to announce another new client having recently worked with Misys Banking Systems.

Working with the Professional Services Senior Management Team of the Core Banking Division, we established a pilot development program for the managers.

This involved an initial 360 Behavioural review using our online process and Misys core competencies. The review and 121 feedback sessions were followed with a relationship awareness workshop that focused on individuals interactions within the senior team and their own direct reports.

Working closely with the Professional Services Director we hope to further support their team.

John Lewis Forum's focused

John Lewis Branches at High Wycombe and Reading recently ran seperate launch events for their newly elected Partner Forum members.

Toojays were invited by High Wycombes Managing Director, Tony Wheeler and Readings Managing Director, Gordon Stenton to facilitate their respective events this month.

The Forum members will be responsible for driving the future of the branches, working with the Senior Management to help identify and focus attention on key branch issues. The Forum members have all been elected into the roles from their fellow partners (staff).

The events were a combination of developing awareness of the competion, team building and understanding the business for the 120 attendees.

Jon Pulford, Matt Martyn and Toojays MD, Lee Martin were involved in facilitating development sessions and activities to focus the groups on the behaviours required in order to make the Forum process a success.

The events were a great success, with attendees commenting on their enjoyment and the value they got from the days.

HR Support at the Treasury

For the past 6 months Toojays staff have been involved with providing HR Generalist support to HM Treasury in London and Norwich.

As part of the Office of Government Commerce downsizing strategy, Toojays has been involved in providing outplacement support consisting of 121 interviews with staff, career assessment, coaching and providing CV and Interview Skills workshops.

As the OGC moves forward with its new structure Toojays staff have also been involved in the recruitment process, providing Applicant Sift analysis and sitting on interview panels, to help the organisation acquire the new skills it seeks for future.

Lee Martin, MD Toojays, said "It's been a great opportunity for us to work within the Civil Service and to help ensure that key Government departments such as OGC are equipped to deliver the cost effective public service they aim to provide via the skills and competence of their workforce."

Wild Wet & Windy West.....

Last Sunday saw Toojays host the Ideal Shopping Direct Summer Party for the third consequtive year. This years theme was was based on 'The Wild West' with plenty of cowboys and girls enjoying the activities on hand.

A stunt troop of cowboys, complete with villians and sherriff held Andrew Fryatt, CEO to ransom at one stage - with guns a blazing and staged fights they were almost as aggressive as the teams in the inter-departmental It's A Knockout event.

The competion held for the second year running was fircely contested - and despite the rain all teams threw themselves (quite literally!) into the tasks.

With face painters, rodeo bulls, shootout saloons, carosel, inflatable fort and wigwams the event was a great success.

Graduates continue development

The second development workshop of the Scottish & Newcastle International Graduate Programme was held last week in Dorney, Windsor.

With weather conditions a lot warmer than in January the 3 day workshop was a combination of classroom and outdoor discussions and exercises.

As the group continue to gain business experience with their international placements, the workshop helped to focus on the interpersonal skills needed to broker and maintain effective relationships.

With interactive feedback sessions and relevant senerios the group commented on how effective they felt the days had been.

As Niall McKee, one of the Graduates commented "I just wanted to thank you both for last week,........Personally I got a lot out of it and I think you highlighted some points for the group as a whole that may have seemed very obvious but were important to go over. "

The next workshop is scheduled for Novemeber and will focus on Change Management.

Steering Group moves forward

The Senior Management Team of John Lewis High Wycombe Branch recently enjoyed a reflective development day at their Odney Conference Centre.

The event facilitated by Toojays MD Lee Martin was the second time the Steering Group, led by the Branches MD, Tony Wheeler had got together with Toojays for some team development and strategic thinking.

A combination of self awareness activity and experiential challenges to apply the learning made for an engaging time and enabled the team to further enhance their performance.

Wild Time

For the third consecutive year Toojays is please to have been invited to host Ideal Shopping Direct's Summer Party.

The theme for this year is the Wild West, so expect plenty of cowboys and Indians!!

Toojays MD, Lee Martin commented, "We're delighted to be ask to support the Summer Party again this year. Ideal value their staff and invest a lot of time and effort into rewarding them with a fantastic family event. We hope that this year will supersede the success of the last two years!"

Look out for further details of the event.

Management Symposium gets congress off to a flyer

In April of this year, Lee Martin, Toojays MD, was invited for a second year to be a guest speaker at the British Small Animal Veterinary Association(BSAVA) Management Symposium, held at Birminghams International Conference Centre (ICC).

As the Veterinary Times, the industries leading publication, reported in its April edition:

"The sympsium, one of the profession's leading management seminars, featured a programme of inspirational speakers who took every opportunity to get everyone to their feet.

The seminar organised by Veterinary Times' sister publication The Veterinary Business journal, this year set out to arm practice managers, senior veterinarians, owners, assistant vets and head nurses with the knowledge they need to help their practices survive the challenges of business competition.

A mainstay of the pre-BSAVA satellite day for more than 10 years, the symposiom is constantly evolving and seeking fresh ways to empower delegates to improve their practices.

For this year's seminar, the title of which was Survival of the fittest, most speakers delivered interactive presentations that involved members of the audience working together in teams or on set tasks.

In one session, speaker Lee Martin got the audience to make paper aeroplanes. Those who threw the furthest had to make additional planes, but with subtle changes. The exercise demonstrated how practices introducing change had to constantly adapt to keep the momentum going.

Paul Imrie, editor of The Veterinary Business Journal, said "This year's symposium once again provided practice owners and managers with fresh ideas to take into their practices. The speakers did a great job of engaging with the audience and had some innvative ways of putting their messages forward. I'm sure ours was the only session at BSAVA where delegates where actively encouraged to throw paper areoplanes."

For further details of Lee Martin's inspirational speaker sessions please contact info@toojays.co.uk

Government Pledges to Boost Staff Skills

Leaders across central government have made a commitment that every eligible employee will be helped to gain basic skills and a level two qualification.
The commitment covers over 475,000 people working to deliver public services in 19 departments.
Sir Richard Mottram, Chairman of Government Skills, said: "I am delighted that these departments which together employ over 90% of those working for central government, and one and a half per cent of the entire UK workforce, have specifically committed to raise the skills and qualifications of their employees. This clearly signals the determination of the civil service to meet the skills challenge highlighted in the Leitch report on skills". Government Skills has now commissioned a skills survey across the entire sector.
Andrew McDonald, Chief Executive of Government Skills, said: “This survey will give us a very detailed picture of the current skills of employees which we can share with employers – and training providers – to enable us to plan more effectively the learning and development activity required both now and for the future. This is a vital part of our work to ensure employees within the public sector have the right skills to deliver effective public services."

Website update & Customer Service Survey

Ruth Peasgood, from Clipston Communications carried out an extensive, independant Customer Service Survey for Toojays in February of this year. The results were fantastic and highlighted again the customer centric strategy that we believe in.

Her results can be seen on the new, restyled website www.toojays.co.uk at the Testimonials page.

what do you think of our new branded image and website layout.

Let us know your comments

Ed

A right Royal Affair

The Royal Garden Hotel, a 5 Star London hotel and established client of Toojays held their 2nd Leadership Development Programme at Dorney in Windsor on the 18Th & 19th Jan.

The two day programme was a combination of experiential activities and classroom facilitation to draw out the delegates key learning.

Prior to the event Nikki Turner & Lee Martin had conducted our online 360 degree review with each of the attendees. This gave a useful pointer to the key development issues to focus upon on the event.

With Nikki on hand during the two days to provide additional feedback and observational input the group found the process enlightening.

The two days culminated in the group delivering a final presentation on their learning and action points to HR Manager Zoe Hiscoke and Assistant GM Johnathan Lowry

Scottish & Newcastle start the year off!!

2007 started with a chilly event in dorney, Windsor, with the first Scottish & Newcastle International Graduate Programme, Development workshop.

The cold (and Snow!) didn't however hamper the graduates enthusiasm or enjoyment of the event.

"There was a great mixture of indoor theory as well as practical outdoor activity" commented one delegate.

Over the four days the group worked on a variety of subjects that enforced the 'Personal effectiveness' workshop. Utilising the SDI, Strength Deployment Inventory model as a grounding to understand each others motivational values and relationship awareness the workshop was a success.

Hopefully the next workshop in June will bring warmer weather!!