HemsMESH!
Jan: Took the lead in organising 'Business Marketplace'. A one-day business exhibition/networking
event – the first of its kind in South-East Wakefield - it showcased the best of
the newer businesses in the area. Hailed as a major success by both exhibitors and
visitors.
Commentary: Paradoxically, at the time of its greatest success in South-East
Wakefield, the Business Link effectively began to pack its bags ready to leave SESKU.
By the time the doors closed at the Business Marketplace, the decision had already
been taken that the project would terminate with the ending of the present funding.
When HemsMESH hit its stride in the Spring, the 'SESKU & Hemsworth Business News'
had already ceased publication and Business Link's part-time office in South Elmsall
was closed. Thus, a powerful opportunity to have a linked attack on both the economic
(Business Link) and social (HemsMESH) problems in SESKU/ Hemsworth, using joint resources,
was lost.
Jan-Dec: Served as a leading member of the HemsMESH project team, using Spiral Dynamics
and related change methodologies to investigate Youth Employability issues in Hemsworth/South-East
Wakefield area. The project, centred around Hemsworth High School, was conceived
initially by myself and Steven Beevers of Business Link Wakefield and developed and
managed by Christopher Cooke of Hidden Resources. It was the first attempt to use
Spiral Dynamics on a macro level in the UK.
Commentary: While the project was truly
pioneering, I became increasingly unhappy with the way Wakefield Training & Enterprise
Council, the body accountable for the funding, tied up delivery resources in report
writing and project management meetings. (In retrospect, Adizes' (1999) classic Production
vs Administration conflict!)
I also argued that the TEC's data collection methods were too BLUE and thus skewed
the analysis.
'When, following his departure from Hidden Resources in early 2001, 'Cookie' asked
me to join his new company, 5 Deep Ltd, I effectively turned him down because he
was also bringing in some of the TEC people I considered to have had a constraining
effect on HemsMESH.
In retrospect I believe Cookie and the team achieved more than I had given credit
for at the time. We proved that Spiral Dynamics could be used very potently to map
cultural diversity. And Chris put SD on Hemsworth High's agenda. Although there was
no continuation of HemsMESH as such, Cookie continued to do some work with the school.
May: Attended first annual 'Spiral Dynamics Confab' in Dallas, Texas—along with some
50 other 'Spiral Wizards' from around the world. One output of the conference was
a draft paper for Dr Don Beck to use in preparing presentations to the State of the
World Forum to be held in conjunction with the United Nations Heads of State Millennium
Summit in September 2000.
July: Third issue of Ultimate Newsletter.
July: Carried out first therapy work.
Commentary: Part of a Change Management programme,
this involved resolving conflict between two sons ('James' & 'Alan') in a family-run
firm and enabling one of them to radically improve his self-image. [This story can
be found in the Personal Therapy pages.]
Aug: Following move to Beverley in East Yorkshire, asked by Hull-based residential
home under pressure from Social Services Inspectorate to help them improve Quality
Management processes, using the Ultimate System.
Sept: Began delivery of first one-to-one coaching programme for Hidden Resources.
Oct: 4th issue of Ultimate Newsletter now generalised for all industry sectors.
Commentary:
With Business Link Wakefield being subsumed into the new Business Link West Yorkshire
and my contracts gone with it, HemsMESH coming to an end and the care home sector
nothing like the boom market it had been, it was clearly time to diversify or otherwise
reinvent myself in some way.
However, I had no idea just how much my career would change over the next few years!
Nov: In two separate sessions introduced Spiral Dynamics and advanced Psychology
tools to St Mary's College and the Garths Resource Centre – both in Hull.
Commentary:
St Mary's was the only Catholic secondary school in Hull and one of the city's top
performers. I had met Angela Ogilvie, Head of Year 9, at a barbecue in Beverley during
the Summer. Intrigued by my Confab T-shirt, she had asked' "What is Spiral Dynamics?"
With Hull having just been declared the worst performing education authority in the
country in the GCSE league tables for the fourth year in a row, Angela was more than
interested in new ideas about improving school-community relations and increasing
educational attainment. We found we had plenty to talk about!
Subsequently Angela set up for me to do a half-day briefing for the school's Investors
in Excellence team.
The visit to the Garths, on Hull's notorious Bransholme estate, was a favour to the
then-Membership Secretary of the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce & Industry. New
Garths manager Mary McGarry, desperately trying to adjust to the local culture, proved
more than willing to listen to new ideas and concepts.
