Project CRANE

Company overview

• Sector: construction

• Employees: ~800

• Revenue: ~£700m

Situation

The Belfast entity of this leading national construction group had recently restructured their management. Although improved, there were still frictions between the main delivery functions: estimating, quantity surveying and construction. These in turn put pressure on the timely and profitable delivery of projects.

Challenge

The construction director approached us to work with the senior leadership team across these functions to improve their ways of working and foster a 'one team' ethos.

Approach

On completion of our individual interviews with the team, we refined the programme combining the Initiative Experience with a 2-day workshop to create a bespoke three days. We chose the Brecon Beacons to ensure complete dislocation from the work environment. The focus was on the team's behaviours and gaining clarity and alignment behind their shared strategic objectives.

Impact

Michael, the construction director, best sums up the ROI:

"In the 16 months since we completed the programme our Senior Leadership Team has developed into a high performing strategic unit with effective decision-making skills and accountability in all departments. The old ‘silo mentality’ that used to hold us back has been replaced with a ‘one team’ ethos that has permeated down through the various layers of management.

We have seen major improvements in time management, meeting effectiveness, clarity of thinking, confidence of individuals, leadership behaviours, culture and general performance.

I can honestly say this has been the best programme of my 35-year career in construction and would highly recommend Albany Peak to any company seeking to improve performance."

We have continued to work with the group and have a long-term ongoing project with their Glasgow entity.

Testimonials

"Great course. One, if not, the best type of this type I have been [on]. Very transferable to our business."

David T, Commercial Director

“All staff impressed with their subject matter knowledge...[the highlight was] to take time away from the normal working week and get the opportunity to think about different things and speak to colleagues about the bigger picture as opposed to being constantly ingrained in day-to-day issues. ”

Chris S, Pre-Construction Director

“By the end of the 3-days I felt much more confident in the group. The feedback session was particularly good. I was sceptical before it but getting the feedback from my peers helped me to understand how I was perceived by the group.”

Andrew F, Operations Director

"In early 2021 I approached Dom Weldon of Albany Peak, a business strategy and leadership consultancy, to design and deliver a bespoke programme for our construction business.

The aim of the programme was to build a ‘high performance’ team with a clear vision (and plan to realise that vision) and to break down the ‘silo mentality’ that existed historically between various departments. Dom and his team had several meetings with me and my colleagues, including one-to-one-interviews with all participants in preparation for the course. The programme was delivered over 3 days and nights in Wales and involved a 1-day immersive outdoor experience in the Brecon Beacons followed by 2 days of more traditional workshop-based activity in a nearby hotel.

The programme was expertly designed to replicate the challenges we face as a business and the mixture of teaching and exercises stretched us both physically and mentally as we started to develop as a team. The Albany Peak team has a wealth of both military and commercial experience and the course material reflected this combination. We entered the programme as a group of individuals with a desire to perform better but left as a team with a purpose, clear vision and a set of core values.

In the 16 months since we completed the programme our Senior Leadership Team has developed into a high performing strategic unit with effective decision-making skills and accountability in all departments. The old ‘silo mentality’ that used to hold us back has been replaced with a ‘one team’ ethos that has permeated down through the various layers of management.

We have seen major improvements in time management, meeting effectiveness, clarity of thinking, confidence of individuals, leadership behaviours, culture and general performance.

I can honestly say this has been the best programme of my 35-year career in construction and would highly recommend Dom and Albany Peak to any company seeking to improve performance."

Michael K, Construction Director