‘Innovation Circles in the Construction Knowledge Exchange North West ’

1. ‘Innovation Circles in the Construction Knowledge Exchange North West ’ Veronica Jones CKE North West Research Fellow v.c.jones@salford.ac.uk

2. What is an Innovation Circle • Provides a practical method of solving ‘real business issues’ • Typically between 6 to 8 people • Focus of action determined by practitioners (individual or collective) • Supported by facilitator • Accountability to take action and learn from it

3. Who benefits? • Individual enterprises of different sizes, working collaboratively to improve collective performance • Project teams • Experts from different business organisations • Members of professional development groups to share and develop best practice • Uses an Action Learning Methodology

4. ACTION LEARNING • Action Learning is a method for individual and • organisational development. • It involves working in small groups (sets) of 6-8 • people, where they tackle important organisational • issues or problems. • As a result of this, they learn from their attempts • to change things. • It brings people together to exchange, support • and challenge each other in seeking to act and • learn.

5. HOW ACTION LEARNING WORKS • Each set member joins and takes part voluntarily • Each must own a managerial or organisational problem on which they want to act • Set members meet to help each other think through the issues, create options and above all… • Take action and learn from the effects of that action • Action Learning can be viewed as a powerful triangulation of three distinguishable learning experiences.

7. Experience Action Planning Reflection Making sense Action Learning: Reflective Cycle

8. INNOVATION CIRCLES IN THE NORTH WEST • Regional CE Clubs • North Manchester SME Group • Women in Construction (Lancaster, Leyland and East Lancs) • CITB Training Plan, Employer Network Forum and Diversity Groups • Housing Developer Researching MMM • Collaborative Working Learning Group • Intelligent Building Technology Group

9. Women in Construction Groups Leyland Lancaster East Lancs CITB Cumbria Group Staff Development Project Co-ordinator Action Learning Lancashire CE Club 1 Club Group N Manchester CE Club 1 Club Group 1 SME Group UCLAN C&T Building SCRI/Research House builder MMC Avanti Group Honeywell Group CITB 6 Training Plan Groups 1 Employer Network Forum 1 Diversity Group 3 Further Groups Cheshire CE Club 1 Club Group

10. Examples of Issues Discussed • Recruitment • Marketing • Training Plans • Investors in People • Employment Contract Law (ACAS) • Appraisal Systems • Partnering • Off Site Manufacturing • Lean Manufacturing • Health and Safety • Insurance

11. Women in Construction Groups Create the opportunity for individuals: • To meet and network with like minded people (joint events) • To share ideas and learn from each other • To also learn from construction industry experts on for example tax issues (CIS), health & safety, employment legislation • Personal development and confidence

12. CITB Groups • Businesses work with CITB Construction Skills to produce training plan matrix • Obtain grants for training • Employer Network Forum discusses Management and Leadership issues in relation to the new Investors in People standard • Diversity in Construction Group

13. Summary Innovation Circles in the Construction Knowledge Exchange: • Builds up relationship between business and academia • Develops relationship between academia and partners in the CKE • Creates a “safe” environment for sharing of ideas • Helps organisations adapt to change • Gives participants time to reflect • Additional support when requested • Help organisations take action and learn from it