Making Learning Flow

Managers from CEVA Logistics faced an innovative challenge when they facilitated the playing of an educational supply chain game with 180 school students all at once!

The challenge was the result of a unique partnership between CEVA Logistics and King Edward VII Science and Sport College in Coalville and formed an integral part of the managers’ ILM5 Leadership course. involved managers implementing communication and motivating skills very much out of their comfort zone! The managers were “trained up” in the morning by the game developers and, assisted by 20 ‘Art of Brilliance’ students,and involved managers implementing communication and motivating skills very much out of their comfort zone! The managers were “trained up” in the morning by the game developers and, assisted by 20 ‘Art of Brilliance’ students, then led in the afternoon a mass game session involving a further 160 Year 10 students from King Edward VII College in Coalville. To quote one of the managers, “The game is a good and enjoyable educational tool and I really enjoyed the interaction

In the morning CEVA’s managers learned how to play a brand new educational board game about global supply chains in order, that afternoon , to lead 180 fifteen year old students playing twenty games at the same time in a large hall through the same process!

CEVA’s eleven managers supported twenty Year 10 students on the school’s “Art of Brilliance” programme to run the ‘Bank’ on each table, acted as trouble-shooters and generally ensured the game ran according to plan.

A crucial aspect of leadership is about managers being able to operate effectively outside of their comfort zone. Returning to school to work with 180 students certainly achieved that with communication, coaching and motivating skills all put to the test.

Steve Kay of Quality Culture commented, “It was a brilliant event. The game is excellent and I can see it being used in staff inductions and ILM 3 courses in logistics companies.”

The game itself is called ‘Business on the Move’ and is sponsored by CEVA Logistics. Currently rolling out into schools and colleges across the UK, the game aims to demonstrate the importance of supply chains and excite and inspire young people about the diversity of career opportunities available within logistics.

In addition to helping school students understand what logistics can offer, Business on the Move can provide a good experience for new starters who, just as young people at school, have no prior knowledge of the industry and can lack confidence.

One of CEVA’s managers went further, “The game was great and I would like to use it with my management team.”

Joanne Griffiths, Senior General Manager, Organizational Capability, UK, Ireland & Nordics and seen in the photograph discussing the game with students, recognizes the versatility of Business on the Move. “It was a brilliant day for everyone involved.  The Business on the Move game gave CEVA’s managers the perfect platform to promote CEVA Logistics and the vast array of exciting career opportunities available for young people.”

Further information about   Business on the Move is available at www.businessonthemove.org