Excellence Academy discovers the leaders of tomorrow

City West is developing the leaders of tomorrow through an in-house Excellence Academy.

The rising stars amongst its workforce are identified by City West and nominated to join the academy.

Throughout the eight month training programme the delegates are given the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills of leadership, management, career development, business acumen, their own personal development and build a fantastic network with their colleagues and Senior Management Team.

The first 12 cohorts to graduate from the Excellence Academy, which has included team building exercises, residential weekends and training courses, have also been given the opportunity to develop two business projects.

They will now start to implement their corporate recommendations on how City West can achieve its green agenda and how the social landlord can boost its fundraising activities and charity work.

Emma Newbrook, 34, is the first Excellence Academy graduate to be promoted to a management position. The former income officer has recently landed the role of income manager.

Mum-to-be Emma now manages a team of 10, promotes best practice and inputs into the policy and procedures of the income team.

Speaking about her experience of the Excellence Academy, Emma said: “It has given me the confidence that I can do the job and that I was ready to take the next step. I know I have developed personally and I definitely look at things in a different way – I’m able to motivate others and it has taught me mechanisms to help me cope with the demands of the role.”

Paul Carhart, Director of Corporate Services at City West Housing Trust, said: “The Excellence Academy is about nurturing and developing future talent and identifying the leaders of tomorrow. We want to be able to provide the very best training in a supportive working environment so that we can have some of the very best people working for us. I am very proud of first intake of graduates who are now excelling within the business.”