Business leaders aim higher with the best

One of the UK’s leading authorities on leadership, René Carayol, is to join senior and aspiring business leaders at the Culloden Hotel later this month to spell out how greater investment in management capabilities is key to future business success.

A major business event entitled ‘For leaders who aim higher’ is set to take place on February 28 at the Culloden Hotel as the climax to Management Month - a series of training and business to business events throughout February and organised by the Management and Leadership Network (MLN).

Amongst those speaking at the Management Month summit is internationally renowned business guru and media personality René Carayol - a leading thinker on leadership and business transformation.

René is well known for presenting the prominent BBC series 'Mind of a Millionaire' and BBC2’s current flagship business programme, 'Pay Off Your Mortgage In 2 Years'.

He previously worked in Northern Ireland having led the establishment of Marks & Spencers at Sprucefield.

“This is the single most important calendar event for senior and aspiring business leaders in Northern Ireland who want to learn how to drive business growth through developing managerial talent,” says Mark Ennis, Chairperson of the Management and Leadership Network (MLN).

“By bringing together eminent thinkers on leadership and seasoned business professionals MLN will be providing a springboard for businesses to re-invest in management skills, enhance business competitiveness and increase profitability.”

Partnering to support the event is the University of Ulster Faculty of Business and Management, Northern Ireland’s Business School, which has just announced ambitious plans to employ up to ten new academic staff, whose key focus will be on enhancing management, leadership and enterprise development skills in the regional economy. This will involve an annual additional half a million pound investment by Northern Ireland’s Business School, as a further contribution to the local business community.

Professor Robert Hutchinson, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management, Northern Ireland’s Business School, said: “We are encouraging businesses to see management development as an ongoing investment, not just a one-off opportunity. For Northern Ireland’s economy to prosper long-term, businesses need to develop the right mix of management and leadership skills so as to compete both locally and internationally.”

René Carayol will be joined by local talent including emerging entrepreneur Hugh Daly who has been involved in developing businesses such as Curves and The Bagel Factory, business leader Andrew Lowden of Glenaden Shirts Limited, the UK’s only remaining volume shirt manufacturer which recently acquired Coles of London and high profile manager Eileen Sowney of AIB (UK).

It is expected that over two hundred and fifty business leaders will attend the Management Month summit to explore ways to improve skill levels in businesses across Northern Ireland.

Businesses wishing to attend ‘For leaders who aim higher’ can register at www.mln.org.uk/MM07.asp

(SP/EF)