So after a Covid-enforced postponement of our 2020 Leadership Challenge it was great to get back to Cwrt y Gollen Army Training Barracks with the Army in Wales and put our “new recruits” through their paces!
We know that strong leadership is critical to any organisation and this is especially evident in the infrastructure sector. And following our Annual Awards in October it was great to restart the CECA Wales Leadership Challenge in November as many of our younger CECA Wales members came together to test their leadership and teamworking abilities. The “Challenge”, which we’ve been developing in partnership with the Armed Forces, and is in its fourth year, is designed to expose our aspiring apprentices, trainees and graduates to a series of physical and mental activities, in an unfamiliar environment, to test their leadership capabilities. Those who attended had been previously nominated by their employers for the CECA Wales Annual Awards and so this event builds upon the Awards. We also invited once again, via our close relationship with the County Surveyors Society (CSS) Cymru, a number of young engineers from local authorities and from other client organisations, to join in the experience and help to develop future networks across the sector with our members. These included strong contingents from Rhondda Cynon Taf and Caerphilly Councils, Transport for Wales and Network Rail Wales.
The 2-day event involved a number of “military tasks” undertaken in “combat mode” and the weather in the Brecon Beacons was pretty kind to us which made “sleeping out” great fun! The military engineering tasks were set out by the Royal Monmouthshire Engineers and and trying to perform these engineering tasks whilst completely disorientated following a lack of sleep proved a real test!
The event culminated in a physical assault type event followed by a well-earned “Army curry” lunch with a number of CECA Wales employers and construction clients who came to observe and discuss the shape of future “Challenges”.
Once again the overwhelming view of the Army personnel was that these were an exceptional group of individuals – which they would welcome with open arms! This goes to show the quality of the people in our industry and their positive feedback was very welcome.
So, big congratulations/llongyfarchiadau to all those who took part.
And in 2022, for the first time we will be hosting a Leadership Challenge in the north at Kinmel Barracks near Abergele followed by a return, later in the year, to Cwrt y Gollen. And all those apprentices, trainees and graduates who enter our 2022 Awards (date to be announced) will be automatically eligible for the 2022 Leadership Challenges.
Here’s a few more photos for you to enjoy :
