Happy new year people. After our early successes at Chertsey College for the Mind, it’s been a busy few months for all of us at Right Path Management, getting the Sappington Bounce Brain Trust on stream and rebooting Skills@Norbury. Not to mention delivering key TrainFame insights at seminars and conferences and consulting with the consultants: all in a day’s work for a skills guru! Spreading the nu-thought to old-school institutions is also key: The University and Colleges Union is a key provider of adult and further education, and Community Education in Lewisham (not these guys!), that borough’s educational supplier. Here is an abridged version of what I had to say to them, and them to me. I’ll be down in the area this Friday to spread more insight. More above.
CEL UCU: Hi Jeremy, thanks for granting us this insight into the role of the top-class consultancy in the world of FE and adult education.
J: Not at all. Thank you for this opportunity to spread my views.
CEL UCU: So talk us through your vision for adult education.
J: Listen, there are many things a consultancy can do that a board of directors or county council cannot. Most importantly, we can take the difficult decisions … speak with John Denham's voice … liaise with our local sponsors … remove the deadwood, that sort of thing.
CEL UCU: They have a better idea of what they can get away with?
J: We certainly know how to push the envelope of organisational change — our experience is invaluable.
CEL UCU: Or, at any rate, extremely expensive. You’re unelected, protected by commercial law — totally unaccountable.
J: No-one's unaccountable in a free market! In any case, why should a postman have a say in how FE colleges are run?!
CEL UCU: So tell me about the accountability of Right Path Management. Specifically, have you not run into some criticism from some quarters within the staff at your pioneering scheme in Chertsey?
J: Criticism is impossible when institutions and their enablers are subject to constant, hourly evaluation.
CEL UCU: I refer to this pamphlet, "Chertsey College of the Mind's Eye, Winter 2008”. There are some accusations leveled at RPM that I'd like to addr—
J: Give me that! That pamphlet has been withdrawn, so I will assume that this one was stolen. I refer you instead to our groundbreaking ‘TrainFame’ press pack.
CEL UCU: Would you care to comment on what a top-flight consultancy such as yours has to fear from a photocopied college rag?
J [folding away the pamphlet and gradually regaining cool]: You can't underestimate the importance of brand image. If people obsess long enough over so-called facts and figures then they may well make some pretty warped claims and where would the skills needs of our people be then, hmm? [Solemnly, with head bowed] Especially at this time of profound economic incontinence.
CEL UCU: Isn't it precisely the facts, figures and the forms that outfits such as yours increasingly place under their remit and claim they can competently cover?
J: What a narrow view you have of people and their potential. We offer so much more! Professionalism. Enterprise. Real-life scenario planning. Life mapping. A greater choice of soups and sandwiches.
Come down to our 'Thrive! Hour'® in the central quadrant every morning and you'll understand just why we have so much pride in our young people. And in some of our senior people too, who we are clearly helping in their ongoing struggle with senility.
CEL UCU: Let me read from another copy of the newsletter: “a fifth of classes closed this year ... effects of restructure still being felt ... enrolment system still in chaos ... senior positions not yet filled...” and “A bunch of soulless, incompetent bureaucrats who treat tutors worse than cattle”.
J: [taking second copy and folding it away]: You are testing my patience now and the legal statutes of this country which I happen to respect. Any further questions will be fielded by the County Council's legal services department.
Blogs are so interactive where we get lots of informative on any topics nice job keep it up !!
http://www.usatermpapers.com
Posted by: term papers | 02 July 2009 at 12:45
Why haven't we got one of these centres in Epsom? Those Chertsey fiddlers are always getting the best choice.
At the very least let's get upskilled in Ewell!
Posted by: Marty Boater | 19 January 2009 at 14:32