As part of a wider development initiative, and to help it fulfil its ambitious strategic plans, a large social housing organisation wanted to provide a comprehensive, bespoke management development programme designed to meet both the objectives of the organisation as well as the individual development needs of the delegate managers.

The aim of the programme was to achieve role model leadership / management and outstanding performance by managers evidenced through the demonstration of excellence in all key areas of the client’s Skills Development Framework.

They wanted the programme to be highly innovative, challenging and to take people completely outside of their comfort zones. In addition they wanted the first module of the programme to be highly energetic and out of the ordinary to set the tone of the rest of the programme and to signal to their people that this was not just another training programme they had to go through.

The solution was a bespoke modular management development programme, with the first 2 day module conisting of a custom designed redhotactive development programme called The Tribe.

The Tribe is a challenging and unusual event, involving delegates in a futuristic scenario set in a post nuclear world, where everything from shelters to law and order has to be created from scratch. This is not a paperwork exercise. Delegates are tasked with setting up a community and working together to solve problems relating to issues they would normally take for granted.

The design provides an opportunity for people to dig deep and bring unknown talents to the surface, realising qualities that were previously unknown. A truly unique experience, this powerful event focussed on the following learning outcomes:

The Tribe is a fusion of unique experiences that parallel both life in general and the workplace. This futuristic scenario is set in a post nuclear bomb world. Civilisation as we know it no longer exists; no government, no rules, no limits. Cities and towns have been completely destroyed. Complete self-sufficiency must be sustained if anyone is going to survive in the desolate, lonely aftermath.

With only a small backpack, a torch and waterproofs, the team find themselves in isolated farmland, battling against the elements to rebuild their community. Everything from shelters and amenities to law and order, from clothing and fashion to entertainment, has to be established from scratch, making the best use of the scant resources left untouched by the devastation.

The team works within a very structured and safe scenario that leads them to create their own environments, culture and community, based on the brief provided. For 24 hours over two days, the team live and breathe this extremely realistic event, which is staged exclusively outdoors in a farmland area.

The second day involves delegates going through a very thorough review of the previous day’s activity, reflecting on action and consequences, behaviours that helped or hindered, skills which contributed to meeting objectives etc. The trainer input is targeted to fill the gaps and all delegates prepare individual action plans.