Derby Homes

Board-level team development to aid transition into private sector

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Summary

A one-day programme for the senior leadership team at Derby Homes. They manage and control over 13,000 properties on behalf of Derby County Council. Tangram Training were engaged to help the senior leadership work closer together, utilise their strengths annd broaden their skill set in their new commercial world.

AkzoNobel Graduate programme 7th - 9th September 2014 - 361

Background

Derby Homes Limited is an arm’s length management organisation (ALMO) created by Derby City Council to manage, maintain and improve its council houses and estates. The organisation is non-profit making and it does not pay dividends to any shareholders. It is 100% owned and controlled by Derby City Council.

In April 2002 responsibility for managing council homes in Derby moved from Derby City Council over to Derby Homes, along with over 300 staff from the then Council’s Housing Services Department.

Challenge

The senior leadership team responsible for all staffing, budgeting and housing stock had been thrust into the commercial world from the relative calm of local authority. This faster and more challenging pace had put strains on the team.

Solution

Tangram delivered a facilitated training day to get the team working more closely together. They had under-utilised their strengths and leadership skills. They asked Tangram to incorporate key-learnings from the commercial world into their programme. We helped them enjoy each other’s company, challenged them on a number activities and got them to work smarter as a team. They were also able to take an action plan away for the team which would give them a platform for future growth.

Copy of Derby Homes team day 24th July 2013 - 30

Copy of Derby Homes team day 24th July 2013 - 67

Copy of Derby Homes team day 24th July 2013 - 72

Copy of Derby Homes team day 24th July 2013 - 75

Outcomes

  • Improved communication skills

  • Higher levels of trust and understanding

  • A clear pathway to get from the ‘now’ to the ‘ideal’

  • A complete set of “stop’ ‘start’ and ‘continues’ for the team to work towards

  • A shared, fun experience

akzo

“Thanks for a great day. The two of you certainly challenged our way of operating and thinking, which I’m sure will be most useful as we take the organisation forward“

Maria Murphy
Acting Chief Executive Officer