THINK PEOPLE:

clients
Northgate Information Solutions Ltd
Northgate Information Solutions Ltd is a market leader in providing specialist software, outsourcing and information technology services. Northgate currently employs over 6000 staff and operates in 46 countries across five continents. Northgate Managed Services provides infrastructure solutions to organisations across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, and specialist ICT managed service solutions in education, government and utilities. They operate from 25 offices across the UK - in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The Business Objective
Northgate's Managed Service division identified development of their managers as leaders as one of the core drivers of high performance and committed to implementing this across their management structure. The objective was to identify and develop leadership behaviours amongst a group of senior to middle managers and to cement this through a comprehensive Leadership programme over a six month period.

I worked closely with thinkpeople to design a programme that was specific to the needs of our managers and our business. We continually reviewed the programme over the six months and amended it to meet the evolving needs of the delegates.

The program included a 360 feedback process to increase managers awareness of their strengths and areas for development. This was supported by coaching and the course content.

A participative approach to learning was encouraged and our managers were challenged to think through leadership models and issues while continuously analysing their own needs and applying this analysis to their development through application in the workplace. The effectiveness of this was borne out in the observed changes in behaviours and practical implementation of various recommendations within their teams.

The programme was well supplemented with relevant reference materials, case studies, practicals and models. Feedback from participants and their managers was very positive and we have decided to continue to work with thinkpeople to ensure the momentum is not lost and to build on the managers' development.

Carol Conn, Head of HR, Managed Services