This event will host a series of taster sessions to showcase Leicester Castle Business School’s Executive Education and Masterclass programmes. An ideal event for those looking to develop rich and versatile skill sets and enhance and build their managerial capabilities. Based on cutting-edge research and practical engagement delivered by subject experts, these taster sessions include a broad range of topics, delivering business-relevant knowledge and innovative thinking.
There will also be the opportunity to network over breakfast and lunch, and learn more about our outstanding research and Executive Education programmes. These include our Executive MBA and our Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Coaching.
Please note you are able to elect to attend for either the whole day or just the morning or just the afternoon. Please make this selection during the checkout process.
08.30-09.30 Business Breakfast Networking session on the theme of ‘Embracing uncertainty’. This session will provide an opportunity for delegates to listen to an engaging speaker and expert in the field of Business Strategy, Professor Paul Hughes, and take part in a lively discussion on how to embrace business uncertainty while having breakfast in the beautiful surroundings of the Leicester Castle Business School.
09.30-10.45 Presentation/taster session for the Exec MBA (Vitor Leone, Amanda Berlan, Paul Hughes)
This talk will provide an introduction to the new Executive MBA being offered at the Leicester Castle Business School and showcase our outstanding teaching and cutting edge research. This session will be led by subject experts in the areas of Strategy, Finance and Sustainability and provide a flavour of the content and methods of engagement used on the Executive MBA. The programme is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute meaning that students graduating from this programme hold not only a prestigious Executive MBA from Leicester Castle Business School but also receive a professional qualification from the Chartered Management Institute.
10.45-11.00 Coffee break
11.00-12.00 Presentation/taster session for the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Coaching (Lucy Mullins)
This session will give you an interactive experience of professional coaching and provide an overview of the new Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Coaching being offered at the Leicester Castle Business School. The session will be led by Lucy Mullins, an experienced executive coach who co-designed and teaches on the course. The Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Coaching has been designed to bring together the best in professional coaching practice, academic research and experienced coaching practitioners’ own insights. It is a part-time qualification designed for working professionals, and includes the opportunity to build the required coaching hours, complete written submissions and receive support towards gaining accreditation by the Association for Coaching.”
12.00-13.15 Networking lunch for those attending the various sessions and look around the Castle
13.15- 14.15 Parallel sessions - Please choose one session to attend (make selection at check out)
Presentation and group discussion on ‘Chocolate, food and sustainability: the supply chain challenges in local and international food businesses’ (Amanda Berlan) This session uses an interactive format to discuss the challenges currently facing food businesses operating locally and internationally and to identify opportunities, solutions and drivers based on the research expertise held at De Montfort University. UK food businesses currently operate under unprecedented pressure owing to a complex range of factors ranging from climate change, Brexit, changing consumer demands, supply chain imbalances, pressure to reduce waste, and legislation such as the Modern Slavery Act. By contrast, universities such as DMU are vast repositories of expertise in many of these areas and they are under increasing pressure to undertake knowledge exchange activities and research which has a positive impact on business and society. Therefore, the session explores the areas where businesses feel there are knowledge gaps and opportunities for support and collaboration and where DMU, through its cutting edge research in the area of sustainability and business, can contribute to business growth.
Presentation/taster session for the Masterclass on ‘Succeeding across national cultures’ (Stephen Martin) We all know national culture counts in business. Financially, strategically, operationally, and personally. So what is the key to experiencing culture as an asset - rather than as a hidden barrier - to organisational and personal business success? This taster session will introduce the new Leicester Castle Business School Masterclass 'Succeeding Across National Cultures' and will illustrate how national culture impacts business at the individual, team and organisational levels. The taster session will provoke thinking beyond the obvious and lead participants to recognise that there are characteristics - impacting all cross-cultural business interactions - that either inhibit or facilitate success in those relationships. Learn what they are, how they work, and how you can use them. 'Succeeding Across National Cultures' is designed and delivered by Stephen Martin, FCIPD. Stephen brings his expertise and experience in senior business roles across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the USA and Latin American as well as his extensive learning from consulting projects and programmes with major global clients (HSBC, Avon Products Inc., Deutsche Bank, AXA, Seabury Group, Sterlite/Vedanta Group, Credit Suisse, many more...)
Presentation/taster session for the Masterclass on ‘The practical application of design thinking in New Development’ (Peter Ford) This session is an introduction to the masterclass run at the Leicester Castle Business School on the role of design thinking in New Product Development. It is aimed at SMEs who want to know more about the role and place of design and design thinking to help them in their product development strategies. The session will be led by Professor Peter Ford and members of the De Montfort University Design Unit. For over 25 years the Design Unit has specialised in undertaking product design interventions with SMEs in the East Midlands leading to numerous successful products in the marketplace. The masterclass this session is based on will use participants’ projects and take a practical look at how design thinking and strategy can be of significant benefit to company New Product Development initiatives.
Presentation/taster session for the Masterclass on ‘Employee Engagement’ (Chris Prince) Three widely acknowledged challenges for business owners are i) how to attract and retain talent ii) how to create a culture and high levels of morale and iii) how to grow a profitable business. In this session Chris Prince, a leading speaker and consultant on employee engagement with over 20 years’ experience in this area, will argue that employee engagement is key to achieving these goals and provide an interactive session on how to capitalise on this. This session is a taster session for the one day Masterclass run at the Leicester Castle Business School on “Employee Engagement”.
2.15-3.15 Parallel sessions - Please choose one to attend (make selection at check out)
Presentation/taster session for the Masterclass on ‘Gender & Diversity in the workplace’ (Gen Gordon)
This session provides a taster for the masterclass on ‘Gender and diversity in the workplace’ offered at Leicester Castle Business School. It is understood that promoting equity and equality within the workplace creates a more diverse and engaged workforce allowing businesses to support their staff and benefit from the individuals within their organisations. ‘Gender & Diversity in the Workplace’ will help to expand participation in your business and make your business more attractive and sustainable for the future. Due to the nature of business, connected organisations need to think carefully about how they comply with the law, the exemptions that are allowed, and how to make sure all employees and wider stakeholders are treated fairly and within the law. Along with understanding ethical and moral obligations, participants will learn more about the legal requirements (for all types of organisations) around this subject.
Presentation/taster session for the Masterclass on ‘Smart Design Thinking and the Environmental Agenda’ (Peter Ford) This session is a taster session for the masterclass run at the Leicester Castle Business School on Smart and Sustainable Design Thinking. It is aimed at small, medium and large enterprises (including retail and retailers) wishing to know more about negotiating the development of products with the growing and changing demands of minimising environmental impact but yet maintain economic performance. The session will introduce the two-day LCBS masterclass led by Peter Ford, Professor of Design at De Montfort University, and Dr Leigh Holloway, Director of the consultants Eco3, showing how the use of smart design thinking can help companies respond to current environmental agendas around the development of new products. It will introduce some of the current environmental and packaging legislation and what tools are currently available to help respond to it (including Life Cycle Analysis); in particular it will demonstrate how smart design thinking can develop products that minimise environmental impact and yet still be economically viable.
Presentation/taster session for the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Coaching (Lucy Mullins) This session will give you an interactive experience of professional coaching and provide an overview of the new Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Coaching being offered at the Leicester Castle Business School. The session will be led by Lucy Mullins, an experienced executive coach who co-designed and teaches on the course. The Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Coaching has been designed to bring together the best in professional coaching practice, academic research and experienced coaching practitioners’ own insights. It is a part-time qualification designed for working professionals, and includes the opportunity to build the required coaching hours, complete written submissions and receive support towards gaining accreditation by the Association for Coaching.
Presentation/taster session for the Exec MBA (Vitor Leone & Paul Hughes) This talk will provide an introduction to the new Executive MBA being offered at the Leicester Castle Business School and showcase our outstanding teaching and cutting edge research. This session will be led by subject experts in the areas of Strategy and Finance and provide a flavour of the content and methods of engagement used on the Executive MBA. The programme is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute meaning that students graduating from this programme hold not only a prestigious Executive MBA from Leicester Castle Business School but also receive a professional qualification from the Chartered Management Institute.
3.15-3.30 Afternoon break
3.30-4.30 Parallel sessions - Please choose one to attend (make selection at check out)
Presentation/taster session for the Masterclass on ‘Duty of Care and its role in business’ (Gen Gordon)
This introduction to the ‘Duty of Care and its Role in Business’ masterclass run at the Leicester Castle Business School provides participants with a better understanding of the concept of duty of care, clarity on appropriate legislation relating to the laws of England and Wales, regulation and policies and consideration of what amounts to liability and how to discharge or reduce that liability. Every employer has a duty of care to employees and visitors (invited and not invited). This is critical to the health, safety and general welfare of all employees and others that you interact with through your business. Not all employers are aware of the implications of the duty of care. However, it doesn’t matter how small a business is; duty of care principles still apply. Where there’s a member of staff, there’s a duty of care responsibility!
“So, how and why are you successful anyway?”: presentation and discussion (Paul Hughes and Gertjan Lucas) Businesses know when they are successful when they are making money, at least most of the time. But how do you know WHY you are successful? Are you really attributing success properly or are you misreading market signals? How can you grow your business and drive inward investment/economic growth if you do not understand who you are actually selling to and what is actually making you successful? In this event we want to explore with you how you as managers understand the success of your company and we will go through scenarios to understand how signals and information could paint a very different picture. This event will allow you to interact and engage with Leicester Castle Business School and fellow business people to understand new ways of driving revenue and how this information can better drive your marketing and business strategies. We will hold group discussions and introduce ideas and concepts to you on signals and attribution.
Presentation/taster session for the Masterclass on ‘Leadership Mindset’ (Chris Prince) This session explores the power of having a leadership mindset based on the notion that leaders cannot be effective unless they invest in themselves first and that without having the right kind of mindset, leaders are unable to inspire others, drive change or build engagement within teams and the business. It provides an introduction to the one day Masterclass on ‘Leadership Mindset’ offered at the Leicester Castle Business led by Chris Prince, a highly experienced speaker and consultant with over 20 years’ experience. During this session Chris will challenge you to look at your own mindset and consider how engaged are you with your work, colleagues and job in order to develop your effectiveness and business acumen.
Introducing the Innovation Centre ‘How to build a business’ course (Simon Baines)
This session will introduce the audience to The Innovation Centre at De Montfort University, where students, graduates and staff work side by side on their entrepreneurial ideas in the Co-working Café.
Hear more about our events, enjoy a taster version of one of our inspirational ‘Bitesize’ talks - and learn more about our future Build A Business Course.”
4.30-5.30 Closing drinks and chocolate tasting
Note on Afternoon Taster Sessions
During the afternoon there will be the opportunity to attend a wide range of taster sessions and presentations to explore our professional development portfolio in more detail.. Please note that each of the three afternoon presentation/taster sessions is one hour in length and the sessions and presentations within them run in parallel within the session, so it will not be possible to attend more than one in each session. These sessions are not obligatory you can opt to attend or not to attend within each of the timed sessions at checkout.
Please make your choice from the options described above which will be presented to you when you checkout. There will be questions at the end of the booking process which will ask which session you wish to attend with in each of the hour Taster timings.