CS Energy is one of Australia's fastest growing electricity companies and have chosen Outward Bound as a partner for their development program. CS Energy's development program is designed to provide employees with diverse experience across a number of aspects of the business.
The Outward Bound Graduate Development Program is a personal and professional development experience that allows employees to develop necessary teamwork, communication and leadership skills required for high performance in the workplace. In CS Energy, this program included apprentices who work at the numerous energy plants across Queensland.
In September 2006, twelve employees embarked on a 5 1/2 day program in Northern NSW that involved adventure activities, an expedition, workshops and a series of challenges that required teamwork, effective communication, creative problem solving and initiative.
The shared experience that occurs on Outward Bound between staff in the Corporate Office and those in operations is important to CS Energy. The company believes that having a united and cohesive staff culture is important to overall business success and staff retention. Having administrative and operational staff working side-by-side on Outward Bound is one way that CS Energy achieves this.
Acting General Manager Organisational Development, Philippa Mowle, visited the group on the final day of the program to listen to the experiences of her staff and share with the group CS Energy's commitment to its people. Phillippa says of their experience, "This group represents CS Energy's future and the program connects them in a unique way. Our competitiveness relies on strong relationships between our technical and professional staff and we see this program as the key to developing those relationships for the next generation of CS Energy decision makers. "
When asked what was the highlight of their experience, participants shared:
Greater contact with other CS Energy graduates and apprentices
To find out what I am capable of and to now take it back to my life and change my life
Activities that involved the whole team together.
The Outward Bound approach to employee development is unique. The experiential nature of the program allows participants real opportunities to employ the skills that they learn through the program. In speaking with one graduate after her return, Melissa shared that it provided the necessary motivation for self-improvement in the workplace and in her life. .
