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Skills for Secondments in Business and the Private Sector

9th Dec 2010

This seminar will provide an opportunity for Civil Servants who wish to broaden their professional experience beyond the public sector, to gain an understanding of the culture and environment of the private sector and the skills required to thrive in it whilst on secondment.

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the main differences between the Civil Service, wider public sector, and the business and private sector
  • Understand the priorities of the private sector
  • Understand private sector work place culture and practices and how they differ from what you may be used to
  • Understand the structures of SMEs, small businesses and big business and the implications for responsibility and delivery
  • Understand how to prepare for secondment in practical and skills terms
  • Implement the skills necessary for action planning
  • Have the confidence to know you can make it happen

Programme

9:00
Refreshments and Registration
9:45
Chair’s Introduction
  • Overview of the Day
  • Learning Outcomes
  • Desired Information from Participants
10:00
Two Sectors – Worlds Apart?
The Culture of the Civil Service and Public Sector – Myths and Reality
The Culture of Business and the Private Sector – Myths and Reality
  • What are the main differences between the sectors?
  • What can you expect in the private sector?
  • What does the private sector expect from you as a secondee and an employee?
  • Empowerment, initiative, risk, chains of command, responsibility and accountability
  • The B-Line and delivery
  • Measuring results and success
  • Drivers and priorities
  • SMEs and Big business
  • HR and “your staff are your biggest asset”
  • Shareholders and business forecasts
  • Working cultures in the private sector
10:45
Questions and Discussion
11:00
Morning Coffee
11:15
Preparing for Secondment
What Skills does the Private Sector Value?
  • Productivity
  • Influence and Proactivity – making things happen
  • Value for money, markets and cost
  • Delivery to time and budget
  • New products and innovation
  • Drive, ambition, focus, results
  • Project management or common sense
  • Versatility and specialists
12:00
Questions and Discussion
12:15
Preparing for Secondment
Developing Business Judgement
  • Assessing risk and cost in the private sector
  • Market analysis and opportunity
  • Vision and strategy – planning forwards and backwards
  • Managing others to deliver results
  • Contacts and investment opportunities
  • Products and clients
  • Business and cycle planning
  • Understand your new context and organisation
  • Communication
How not to do it and what annoys customers most – examples and case studies
13:00
Questions and Discussion
13:15
Lunch
14:00
Action Planning Workshop:
Part One Developing a plan of action quickly and effectively
  • Real life business scenarios
  • Coping effectively with real issues
  • The logistics of delivery
15:00
Afternoon Tea
15:15
Action Planning Workshop:
Part Two Making it happen
16:30
Final Discussion and Close

Please note that the programme is subject to change without notice

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