Capita Symonds students complete BusinessWise

42 students from Capita Symonds have successfully completed the company’s BusinessWise programme, achieving a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Performance Management from the University of Salford.

This is the first group of employees to complete the ground breaking business skills programme, one of the first programmes to be jointly designed and delivered by an employer and a university in the UK.
The knowledge and skills that the graduates have developed during the programme, will be essential now, more than more than ever before, to the continued success of the company...

Successful students attended the graduation ceremony at The Lowry Art and Entertainment Centre in Salford where Craig Kirk from Capita Symonds' Cumbria & North-East business also collected the award for Most Outstanding Student on BusinessWise from Capita Symonds Executive Director Dave Spencer.

Pictured: Craig Kirk, winner of the first ‘Most Outstanding Student Student’ Award for BusinessWise, with Capita Symonds project manager Ann Graves and Dr Ed Doran, University of Salford programme leader

Dave said: “We are delighted that BusinessWise has proved to be so successful. The knowledge and skills that the graduates have developed during the programme, will be essential now, more than more than ever before, to the continued success of the company. We are proud of the commitment that all the graduates have made to BusinessWise and in particular Craig should be congratulated on achieving the Most Outstanding Student award, which is a credit to the work he has put in over the last two years.”

Stuart Wells, Director of Management Development Programmes at the University of Salford, Salford Business School commented: “We are extremely delighted to see the first cohort graduate from this ground breaking programme. The programme is unique in that it is co-developed and co-delivered by Salford Business School and senior staff from Capita Symonds. It offers a substantial grounding in the theory relating to management disciplines combined with business specific skills. This has enabled students to combine learning in both the workplace and the class room. Special praise should go to Craig for the effort and determination he has put in over the course of the programme. He has excelled in his studies and the prize is recognition of his outstanding academic performance.”

23 students that commenced the second cohort of BusinessWise are now half-way through the programme and are on track to graduate in July 2011.

Find out more about BusinessWise.

How the stunning Goodwood Festival of Speed sculpture was made

Capita Symonds’ Structures team provided structural engineering design for the spectacular central sculpture at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The innovative display – sponsored by Alfa Romeo to celebrate the company’s centenary – was designed especially for the event by renowned sculptor Gerry Judah. The structure’s design, which is reminiscent of the car giant’s Quadrifoglio badge and the red livery of its racing cars, features an Alfa Romeo P2 (a P2 won the inaugural Automobile World Championship in 1925) and a 2003 8C Competizione.

Click here to see how this amazing structure was designed and put together.

Property efficiency? This time it's for real

Mark Norris, Executive Director, Capita Symonds comments on the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) / Capita Symonds survey on public sector estates rationalisation.

"The results of today’s LGC/Capita Symonds survey are fascinating. Although the progress is limited, there is clearly a serious drive from local authority chief executives to unlock the savings available from their property estates and services. More importantly, there is also a greater willingness to work with the private sector in developing new property solutions in innovative partnerships.

Our survey shows that the top three issues in terms of property are serious ones: that buildings are not suited to modern service delivery, they are costly to maintain and cannot meet sustainability targets.

Surprisingly, given the unprecedented level of public sector debt, more than half of respondents indicated that their estate remained largely unchanged from that analysed in the most recent Audit Commission report on local authority property in 2009.

There also appears to be a mismatch in the available resources for the rationalisation of property portfolios (approximately 70% of chiefs indicated that the required strategies, finance, and expertise exist in-house) and the progress made to date.

Nevertheless, the tightening of central government funding has undoubtedly brought the capital that is tied up in local authority assets into sharp relief. For example, 84% of respondents said estate rationalisation was vital, and all respondents were looking to find ways of reducing the operational cost of the estate.
But how can efficiencies be realised? Most chiefs indicated that the key lies in relocating out of redundant space and consolidating into modern and efficient property while introducing new ways of working (with potential savings of up to 40%). As a result, a willingness to ‘de-silo-ise’ historically separate organisations is increasing – 73% of local authority respondents indicated that public service convergence and co-location was on their immediate agenda.

The survey also reiterates that effective estates rationalisation using new delivery models is key – stand-alone sale and leaseback of assets by local authorities is not considered a viable solution under the current local government funding regime, whereas the release and sale of surplus nonoperational assets in combination with property services outsourcing certainly is.
Overall, it looks as though, after umpteen reports on public sector property efficiency, this time it’s for real."
This survey was carried out by LGC and was commissioned and sponsored by Capita Symonds. The report on the results was independently written by LGC and published on 08 July 2010. Visit the LGC website here.

Capita Symonds at Intelligent Sport UK Challenge

Two teams from Capita Symonds will test mind, body and spirit to the limits in this year’s Intelligent Sport UK Challenge, a corporate challenge event that raises crucial funds for the NSPCC.

The competition - nicknamed the ‘Corporate Olympics’ - will see 100 UK companies battling it out over four days and three nights (16-20 June) in the mountainous regions of Aviemore in Scotland.

Capita Symonds is sending a mixed team as well as an all-male team, both of whom will be hoping to better last year’s results and break into the top 20.

The teams will not know the exact details of the challenge, which are kept top secret until the start, however they are likely to face tasks that involve cross-country mountain biking, trail running, kayaking, navigation and code breaking.

Team Captain Tom Davies said: “We will be up against some strong teams from the likes of Microsoft, Airbus and Lloyds Bank. However, we’re ready, willing and able to take on the rest of the UK teams and between our training programme and the fundraising, we’re being kept very busy. We’re aiming to raise £4,000 for the NSPCC, so your support would be very welcome – sponsor us at www.justgiving.com/capitasymonds2010."

NSPCC fundraiser Liz Silk said: “The efforts of the Capita Symonds teams will support the vital work of the NSPCC, which makes a massive difference to the lives of children.”

Capita Symonds Managing Director Jonathan Goring said: “I’m delighted to be part of a strong Capita Symonds entry into the event. Last year was a great success and we hope to do even better this year, both in terms of overall placing and fundraising for the NSPCC.”

Capita Symonds teams are drawn from across the UK and numerous disciplines: Tom Davies, Martin Weil (East Grinstead), Jonathan Goring, John Kinnear, Ruth Farrar, Russell Nunn, Stephen Charters (London), Alison McKerrow, Carys Holloway (Portishead), James Daplyn, Paul Ryan (Carlisle), Kyle Duckworth (Blackburn), Mark Saunders (Barrow), John Hughes (Manchester).

Glamorgan team at RedR Disaster Relief Challenge

Staff from Capita Symonds’ Glamorgan office took part in the RedR Disaster Relief Challenge at Cuffley Camp Outdoor Centre in Hertfordshire recently.

The original concept of RedR was to create a register of carefully selected and trained engineers who could be called on at short notice to work with front-line relief agencies, either on secondment from their regular employer or as a full time aid relief worker. The charity, which started in the UK, has evolved into an international federation of RedRs that provide a host of specialist training and recruitment services for all the major aid agencies.

Pic: L-R Rhys Hellin, Kirsty Llewellyn, Steven Rusby and Matthew English.

The Disaster Relief Challenge is a unique and exciting 12 hour event where volunteers encounter some of the extreme situations faced by aid workers in the field. Money raised by the event is used to train, recruit and support relief workers in the UK and around the world, improving the quality and coordination of humanitarian responses to natural disaster and conflict.

The team of four - Steven Rusby, Kirsty Llewellyn, Matthew English and Rhys Hellin - experienced an exciting but challenging 12 hour event taking part in tests such as Orienteering, Emergency Scenarios, Obstacle Courses, Problem Solving and Time Trails.

The team, which came first in the Emergency Scenarios and Relay Assault Course sections, finished third out of 13 teams overall. Most importantly, the team successfully raised a grand total of £2000 towards the RedR Disaster Relief Challenge Fund.

Glamorgan team give Maesteg primary school garden a make-over

Garth Primary School at Mission Road in Maesteg has a brand new outdoor stage and sensory garden thanks to green-fingered help from local Capita Symonds volunteers.


The outdoor stage will be used for outdoor plays and concerts over the summer while the garden includes a draft board, sandpit and flower beds with plants and herbs of different smells, textures and tastes.

Fifteen volunteers from Capita Symonds - and a volunteer from construction company Morgan Ashurst - worked with Business In The Community’s Jill Salter on the project.

Although the project was planned over several months, it was carried out over a hectic 12 hour period. Head teacher Julie Thomas, says: “We are all thrilled with the garden and the stage; all the hard work and effort that went into the preparation, planning and organisation was amazing. The results are fantastic.”

Kirsty Llewellyn, a transport graduate from Capita Symonds, was selected as the company’s Team Leader for the work – the first time she’s managed her own project and team.

Liane Sheppard, Director, Capita Symonds said: “We thought it was a good opportunity for a graduate to take on the team leader role. Kirsty has gained valuable experience in management of projects, working very hard behind the scenes with our design engineers on the outdoor stage and garden to ensure that everything was in place for the actual construction. All the Directors at our Glamorgan office took part in the project and enjoyed not having to make the decisions for a day!”

Capita Symonds Director Ian Walsh said: “We actively encourage staff to take part in local community projects. This project was particularly challenging within the timescale but the outcome is worthwhile as the children and school will benefit hugely. The staff also thoroughly enjoyed their involvement in the project.”

“We are always keen to invest as much time and energy into community projects as possible,” says Tom Davies Morgan Ashurst operations manager. “This was a fun challenge to get involved with and we’re thrilled the children will have such a fantastic place to let off some steam in between lessons.”

Special thanks goes to Alun Griffiths Contractors (Wales) Ltd who donated £250, Morgan Ashurst’s supply chain partners Jewsons and WT Burdens which donated materials including paving slabs, concrete and sand, and Costain which donated and delivered all the timber for the stage.

Capita Symonds triumphs at annual Capita Challenge event

Capita Symonds yet again led the field at this year’s Capita Challenge, which took place at Catton Hall, Derbyshire on 08 May.

19 Capita Symonds teams were among 85 teams from across Capita Group Plc, business partners and clients that took part in a range of sponsored physical and mental challenges.

Capita Symonds’ ‘Sticky Bitty II’ (Tom Davies, James Daplyn, Richard Peers, Matt Price) came top of the heap – holding off the challenge of ‘NOW and the Temple of Plumstead’ (Damian Lineham, Michael Brand, John Kinnear, Simon Chittenden) in 3rd and ‘Sticky Bitty’ (Stephen Charters, Jonathan Goring, Russell Nunn, Stuart Ramsay) in 4th.

A fantastic £63,000 was raised by the Capita Challenge for Macmillan Cancer Support, which will go towards the £1 million Capita has pledged to raise during its three year partnership with the charity.

Shopping Centres team up for World Cup charity boost

Ten shopping centres managed by NB Real Estate - part of Capita Symonds - are joining forces to host a series of fun and creative World Cup themed events on behalf of the testicular cancer charity Everyman.

The events, which will be taking place throughout June and July, combine a host of different activities including a ‘Man Crèche’ and 5-a-side football tournament at the Kingdom Centre in Glenrothes; a charity ball evening in Rochdale; and ‘World Cup Widows’ indulgence packages at The Light in Leeds.

As well as increasing awareness for such an important cause, the objective of the Everyman campaign is to raise vital funds for the Everyman Centre in Surrey, Europe’s first and only dedicated male cancer research centre.

The ten centres involved are: Abbeygate Centre (Nuneaton); The Academy (Aberdeen); Chantry Centre (Andover); The Kingdom Centre (Glenrothes); The Light (Leeds); Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre (Rochdale); St Elli Shopping Centre (Llanelli); St Martins Walk (Dorking); White Lion Walk (Guildford); and Windsor Royal Shopping (Windsor).

NB Real Estates' Retail Marketing Manager Anna Bluman says: “The 2010 World Cup presents the retail sector with a huge opportunity to engage with its male customer base. Given the community focus of many of our shopping centres a core cluster will be working closely with the Everyman Charity to help the charity reach this market, hosting a month-long programme of marketing events that tie in with a World Cup theme to raise awareness of testicular cancer.”

Image: Standing (l-r): Lorenzo O'Reilly (Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre, Rochdale), Jim Gordon (Divisional Director NB Real Estate), Brian Oakley (The Light, Leeds), John Macfarlane (Academy Shopping Centre, Aberdeen), Robert Winter (Kingdom Shopping Centre, Glenrothes). Sitting (l-r): Christopher Borton (Director Retail Management, NB Real Estate), Anna Bluman (Retail Marketing Manager, NB Real Estate).

Catherine volunteers on Osprey project

Catherine Soper from our East Grinstead office will be volunteering for two weeks with the RSPB at its Osprey Project in North Wales.

The project involves working at the RSPB Visitor’s Centre in the Glaslyn Valley in Snowdonia, home to the only pair of Ospreys in Wales. The work will involve surveillance of the pair to prevent poaching of their eggs and to engage the public with the project, which aims to establish an Osprey population in Wales.

The Centre’s surveillance hide provides a unique view of the Ospreys' nest and enables visitors to gain a valuable insight into these magnificent birds as well as the workings of Europe's largest conservation charity.

To sponsor Catherine’s RSPB project please go to http://www.justgiving.com/catherinesoper

Jonathan Goring is done and dusty at Cannes

Mayor of London Boris Johnson turned out to greet riders at the finish of the six day 1500km Cycle to Cannes charity challenge.

Jonathan Goring completed the race, raising money for the Over the Wall charity…

“We finally made it to Cannes, after 56 hours of cycling, 40,000 calories, 1500 km and 50 pee stops. An epic trip through beautiful countryside with a total of 12000m of painful ascents and some hair raising descents.

The arrival was spectacular as the whole Peleton rolled into town flanked by motorcycle out riders before being met by Boris Johnson.

We cycled down with some of the UK’s top clients and John Rudge and I enjoyed our first beer in Savilles tent!”

Make a donation to Jonathan's chosen charity - Over the Wall

Jonathan