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Tuesday 17 May 2005

NETWORK RAIL SENDS ITS MANAGERS TO COVENTRY

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The purchase of a new purpose-built residential leadership centre was announced today by Network Rail.  The centre will welcome over 4,000 managers and supervisors through its doors over the next two years as Network Rail seeks to strengthen its leadership capability. The stunning ‘Westwood’ leadership centre, in Coventry, is a £20+million investment in Network Rail’s key leaders of today and tomorrow and covers its purchase, the installation of new facilities, the development of the curriculum and the running of the centre. Iain Coucher, Network Rail’s Deputy Chief Executive said: “Leadership skills are critical to the success of our company’s mission to rebuild Britain’s railways. The investment in Westwood is a vital part of our long-term plans to develop a team of professionals: Strong managers who will lead our company into the next decade.” The centre will deliver a programme of professional skills development, including accredited leadership and management courses. These will be developed in conjunction with two of the University of Warwick’s renowned departments – the Warwick Business School, and Warwick Manufacturing Group – which work with governments and companies in the areas of engineering technology and management. The first Network Rail managers are expected to enrol for study later this year. The purpose-built, fully residential training and conference centre has been purchased from the telecommunication group Cable & Wireless. The complex has around 150 study-bedrooms and 40 meeting / conferences rooms. Since its inception in 2002, Network Rail has embarked on an ambitious programme of employee development. The leadership centre is an integral part of this along with other schemes such as:

• Foundation degree course in railway engineering at Sheffield Hallam University, now in its second year
• Advanced apprentice scheme for over 1,000 17-18 year olds starting in September this year taught in conjunction with Royal Navy instructors at HMS Sultan in Gosport
• State-of-the-art signaller training centres opened in Leeds and Watford
• Skills and competence training for all maintenance employees

  University of Warwick Vice-Chancellor, Professor David VandeLinde added: “We bring to this partnership some of Europe’s most highly rated and valued management and engineering experts and trainers who will help equip Network Rail staff with the skills they need to manage and develop  such a crucial part of the UK ‘s transport infrastructure.”