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Army Reserve share leadership skills with RPS

More than 40 employees visited Chetwynd Barracks in Nottingham, where they took part in a series of challenges designed to help them develop their skills, the day was run jointly by 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group Royal Engineers and 158 Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps (RLC).

 Captain Terry Gillard, Engagement and Retention Officer for 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group explained: “I think events like this benefit the building of relationships between organisations and the Army Reserve, they have a better understanding of what we do and are more supportive of their employees who are also reservists.

RPS Group employees took on several leadership tasks

“It also allows the company to learn a few techniques that will boost leadership skills and team building. We run similar events for other employers in the engineering sector that we engage with and positive feedback is always received from those who take part.”

 On the day the employees were taught about the work of the Army Reserve before taking part in a planning exercise, a command task and a First Aid scenario, these were all designed to improve the group’s ability to work together in order to tackle any situation.

 Speaking at the event Captain Ben Wing, from 203 Transport Squadron of 158 Regiment RLC explained: “I’m running a planning exercise today, which is normally for potential officers, it’s a great way of getting people to work together, share ideas and formulate a plan in a pressurised situation.”

 RPS Group plc is multinational consultancy in energy resources and built and natural environment working across diverse sectors in areas of Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, to Occupational Health and Cultural Heritage consulting.

 David Dunbar, Operations Director of RPS explained: “It’s really useful for us to integrate as a company and reinforce the idea that we are all part of something bigger.

 “I think it’s a really engaging environment that is totally new for a lot of our staff and it’s a very positive experience which I think will benefit the company in many ways.”

 Fay White an Operations Manager with RPS in Nottingham added: “It really takes you out of your comfort zone and you’ve got to be open to trying new things, it has shown the strength of our staff and how we can all work together.

Employees participated in a First Aid task to test how they respond in a crisis.

“We attended a management and leadership presentation which was really useful because it was great to learn how the Army work and then to think about how we can implement some of that in the workplace.”

170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group is a hybrid regular and reserve unit that recruits from around the UK, it has also signed a partnership agreement with RPS Group through its Newark office.

Members of 170 have a wide range of highly specialised skills including engineering consulting, design and project management, meaning there are many skills shared between the unit and RPS.

Staff Sergeant Phillip Mabbitt of 158 Regiment RLC is also a Senior Engineering Co-ordinator at RPS in Newark, he commented: “To do this kind of event is massive for team building, leadership and morale.

“A lot of the challenges today make people take in a lot of information, process it and then share the work amongst the team based on individual strengths, which is really useful in our company.

“I think it has shown a lot of the staff what they can achieve and hopefully it will have a positive effect in the workplace.”

RPS Group have shown support for the Armed Forces Community by signing the Covenant in November 2015, they then won an Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award for their efforts and currently employ several reservists.