Teachers Building Society welcomed six other mutual organisations to
Dorset in June for a mentoring event held at the Carlton Hotel.
The Achievers’ Academy is a development programme
shared by six building societies – Wimborne-based Teachers, Saffron,
Ipswich, Hanley Economic, Leek United and Market Harborough – along with
Mutual One, a building society-owned organisation providing support
services to mutuals. The programme aims to identify and mentor members
of staff with the potential to become leaders of the future.
The chief executive of each participating mutual
organisation has mentored the ‘Achievers’ from a different society over
the last year. The event at the Carlton was the third in a series of
three Academy meetings, at which the participants were challenged with
various tasks, from making presentations to role-playing as a board of
directors. This time, the group was joined by Adrian Coles,
Director-General of the Building Societies Association, who provided an
insight into the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
James Bawa, chief executive of Teachers Building
Society, has supported the programme since its inception. He says “As a
building society, we place great emphasis on providing a warm customer
service and a thriving working culture for our staff.
“Such a service can only be maintained with a valued
and challenged workforce. The Achievers’ Academy is a fantastic example
of how smaller mutual organisations can work together in encouraging and
developing our future leaders.”
This year’s ‘Achievers’ from Teachers Building
Society are Jenni Millis, PA to the chief executive, and Joanna Clarke,
public relations officer. They have been mentored by David Webster,
chief executive of the Hanley Economic Building Society and also current
chairman of the Building Societies Association. “We’ve both enjoyed the
tasks and have been shown a great deal of support from our mentor,”
says Jenni. “The Achievers Academy has enabled us to assess our
capabilities and career aspirations while learning about other societies
and the market in which we operate.”