Sharing ideas and successes about Learning and Development
Paul Nixon, our Learning and Development Advisor has been bringing likeminded people together to share their ideas, successes and pains. Here Paul tells us more about the Learning & Development gatherings…
Why do you hold a L&D gathering and who attends?
I have been attending a gathering of Learning and Development professionals for the past 12 months. The group meets every month in Manchester which poses two challenges for me. Firstly, there is the commute to Manchester which eats up time in my day and, secondly, meeting every month was too much of a commitment. I’m also a born and bred Stoke lad who wants to see innovation and a sense of community being developed in my city. There is a quite a varied group of people that attend, all contributing unique and valuable experiences. We have individuals from ICO, Leek United Building Society, Vodafone and Water Plus along with one or two independent consultants.
What have the group been discussing?
When I set up the group, I was very clear about its purpose: sharing the successes we’ve recently had, the challenges we’ve faced and discussing any new trends, ideas or opportunities that may lie ahead. This means everyone has a story to tell and experience to share. It’s a relaxed, informal setting where people can speak openly, build relationships and find support. There are only two major rules: no sales pitches and no touting for business!
What are the benefits to bringing likeminded people together?
As the only person in Learning and Development at Novus, the group has provided me with a great opportunity to meet likeminded people who understand my successes and challenges. Equally, hearing the experiences that other people have had is encouraging and motivating. Learning about how other people have tackled similar problems helps me to be more creative and innovate in my own workplace.
When do you meet?
We meet every other month, normally on the first Friday of the month, although this is flexible. We meet in the city centre at The Quarter café, who have kindly allowed us to use a private space for free. If anyone is interested in attending, please get in touch with Paul via email paul.nixon@novussolutions.co.uk
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Novus is a national business built on family values thanks to our rich 128-year history within the Seddon family. Everything we do is guided by these core principles, and our people-centric legacy has played an important role in our success over the years.
