Peer into the Future 2024/25

2024/25 PEER INTO THE FUTURE APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED

Thank you to everyone who applied for this year’s Peer into the Future Cohort—we had an outstanding response! It’s such a thrill for us to have the opportunity to work with some of the best HR/OD professionals from our community. We are so looking forward to opening the doors that will enable them to thrive, flourish, and succeed, setting their on your way to dream big and achieve all they want and more from their careers!

We’re excited to welcome them all to the programme and to watch them grow throughout the programme as they get set to lead the future of HR & OD.

The full list of this year’s cohort is available below:

Lyn Arnull, Central Bedfordshire Council

Claire Baker, Donnelly Sheffield City Council

Claudia Beaumont, Wiltshire Council

Helen Cornwell, South Cambs District Council

Catherine Culham, Maldon District Council

Katie Dawson, Kingston Council

Georgie Evans-Stadward, Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council

Shelby Fielding, Wigan Council

Steve Fuller, Kent County Council

Cheryl Graham, Essex County Council

Sara Jeffs, North Yorkshire Council

Emma Lacey, Kent County Council

Samantha Myddelton, Essex County Council

Kate Story, Salford City Council

Carole Thatcher, British Transport Police

Hannah Yeadon, North Yorkshire Council

The Programme

Designed by PPMA and supported by experts in their fields, this modular, strategic programme is a combination of theory, leading practice and real-world practical inputs from senior leaders across private and public sector organisations.

This programme reflects PPMA’s passionate desire to stretch and develop HR & OD professionals. Our organisations need future oriented, forward thinking professionals – those who can both think outside the box, and especially don’t see a box at all. In this way we see HR & OD people as business leaders whose expertise happens to be in workforce related matters and enables business to innovate and transform.

Peer into the Future provides you with an opportunity to take time out from day to day business to reflect on the key business and workforce issues of the day; and share, learn and develop with colleagues.

Participating will enable you to enhance your personal leadership and professional skills as well as extending your professional network.

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Who is the programme for?

If you are a current HR & OD professional operating strategically within your organisation and/or you are aspiring to operate at Director level, then this programme is for you.

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Where is the programme held?

Peer into the Future modules will be delivered with a mixture of virtual and face to face sessions.

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Programme objectives

This programme will develop your understanding of how HR & OD needs to maximise its contribution to the overall success of your organisation and public service as a whole. Specifically, it will enable you to:

• Gain a deep appreciation of holistic, engaging and compassionate leadership, and the significance and impact of self-care for leaders.
• Take a deep dive into your self-awareness and how this impacts on others perception of you, your own self-confidence, and your performance and impact.
• Build your own personal and professional brand, and understand how that will support your effectiveness in your organisations
• Confidently define and assess the impact of HR & OD on our organisations through lived experience as well as ‘numbers’.
  Develop your cohort networks and be part of a national Peer Alumni community.

Peer is a fully interactive programme focused on doing as well as theory. It’s an important combination – understanding how to apply learning in organisations that are often messy, changeable and ambiguous is a significant skill.

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Programme Structure

Delivered in 6 one-day modules, participants are encouraged and expected to take an active role in their learning and sharing experiences with cohort colleagues. There will be light preparation between modules.

The first module sets the direction of travel for personal and cohort development. This enables the cohort to accelerate their learning through the shared experience of each other’s work priorities and organisational challenges.

Speakers for the modules include:

Professor Beverly Alimo-Metcalfe, PhD, MBA, MSC, CPsychol, FBPS and Founding Director of Real World Group

Leatham Green, Transformation Director, Oracle

Matt Jones, Senior Consultant, Executive Interim

Rachael Morris, Senior Consultant, Executive Interim

Angela O’Connor, The HR Lounge

Emma Pennycard, BeCoaching – Life Balance Coach & Trainer

Dr Kathryn Waddington, University of Westminster, London

Alistair Williams, Creation Consultancy

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A range of Chief Executives & leading HR Professionals including: Julie Biggs, PPMA Talent Programmes and Awards Manager, Sonia Grewal, Chief Operating Officer, Swindon Borough Council, Jonathan Higman, Chief Executive Officer , NHS Somerset, Althea Loderick, Chief Executive Officer at Southwark,  Maxine O’Mahony, Chief Executive at Breckland Council and the MJ Chief Executive of the Year 2024, Pam Parkes, PPMA President 2024 – 2026 and Commissioner to Birmingham City Council.

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Attendees will influence many of the speakers and the areas they want to hear from as the programme gets underway, making for a wide input from a spectrum of professionals.

APPLICATIONS CLOSED

FEEDBACK FROM PAST PROGRAMMES

“From filling out the application form I have felt really engaged in this programme. It’s been amazing meeting my fabulous peers and I hope we will continue to build on our network and friendships.”

“The programme helped me build fantastic connections that will last a lifetime. The speakers were inspiring and the time reflecting helped me to focus and take the next step in my career.”

“Great range of speakers, all inspirational for all different reasons. Networking has been a huge plus! Feels like creates opportunities to reflect and step back. Sharing of best practice in and outside of the days we meet up. All a stretch from where we are. Open to help and support outside the course. All felt very accessible.”

“This programme has been fantastic. I have been introduced to an amazingly talent group of peers. Every speaker has been exceptional and delivered something inspiring and valuable to the group.”

“Inspirational speakers who have made me reflect on myself and my role within the organisation. Absolutely improved my confidence and self-belief. Fantastic opportunity to network and meet others.”

“Gives you space to reflect on myself and career aspirations.”

“Great networking. Thought provoking. Brilliant range of speakers.”