On Friday 5th May 2023, first-year students studying BSc Management and Human Resources (HR) had the opportunity to take part in a workshop around social sustainability with Westminster Controls Ltd.

This was part of the Management and Organisation in Context module, delivered by Dr. Beth Suttill and co-delivered by Vicky Metcalf, Careers Coach with LUMS Careers, which is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Students can register as student members and complete necessary elements of the programme during their undergraduate studies to become Associate Members upon graduation.

Throughout the module, various representatives and members of the CIPD participated in discussions to expose students to different professions within and pathways to HR. For one of the discussions, Carl Fitzsimons, Managing Director of 4Box Consulting, delivered a session on 4Box’s “moving 4ward” strengths-based action planning methodology to encourage them to identify their strengths, set meaningful goals, and create action plans aligned with their personal and professional aspirations.

During the practical workshop element of the module, students roleplayed as consultants for the day to consider the value of social sustainability in the HR industry. Claire Louise Chapman, Founder and Managing Director of the Shared Value Business, delivered an informative keynote to students about social sustainability, its application in staff recruitment, and its purpose in staff development and retention. Claire Louise guided students on the importance of and how to implement the social value of clients at all levels of a company.

Next, students were introduced to their client, Adam Metcalf, Business Director of Westminster Controls. Adam introduced students to the company and some of its issues around social value regarding staff retention and their interest in increasing the sustainability and demographics of their staff. This is to ensure they are complying with government legislation and to enhance their chances of winning public sector contracts. For the next hour, students were put into groups to perform a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis on the company, with Claire Louise and Carl mentoring them through the exercise. Then, they worked on a social sustainability statement that Westminster Controls could adopt on their website and for use in any competitive contract bids. Finally, they were encouraged to recommend further actions for the company to take to implement the company’s mission, vision and goals.

Carl, who has served as the Industry Champion for the Management and HR module and is a Fellow of the CIPD Institute and a LUMS Leader in Residence, enjoys the platform to share his insights, collaborate with fellow professionals, and contribute to the development of the future of HR leaders. Speaking about this module workshop, Carl said, “Contributing now to the development of HR's future leaders in their early steps does offer a real sense of purpose and pride. It genuinely does feel rewarding, in many ways like connecting an important personal loop. Some important people did it for me when I was starting out (they know who they are) and when I look back to those people who really influenced my career, I can honestly say it was those I experienced in my formative early years from university who made the deepest and most lasting impressions.”

Find out more about LUMS’ Organisation, Work and Technology department and our range of study options here: Organisation, Work and Technology