ICOM’s activities have been focused in four sectors:

The INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR.

The Faculty have delivered 12 bespoke, action learning programmes in the electricity, telecoms, ports, water and construction sectors in the UK and “overseas”.  These programmes featured technical and management inputs from specialists in the particular industry supported by directors of the client organisations.  They led to 12-month Diplomas in Electricity Management (for example) accredited by the University of Cambridge (UCLES) or two-year MBAs from the University of Bradford.  Those in the UK construction sector were part-funded by the National Construction Skills Council.

ICOM has expanded these programmes to include the waste, airports and urban regeneration sectors and subjects such as privatisation in general and public-private partnerships.

We are also creating INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTES in certain countries.  These Centres of Excellence will focus on the issues in implementing infrastructure projects, such as their funding, the process of selecting contractors and how the assets can be maintained.  They will also create forums to connect with industry leaders, widen their understanding of international best practice and create long-term learning networks built around value chains in each infrastructure sector.

LEADERSHIP IN EMERGING MARKETS

Leadership in the world is in a state of crisis.  Not only are many leaders failing to deliver on their promises, but there is a lack of understanding of what leaders should DO and what competencies they should possess.  There is also confusion over how leaders are developed.

We do not subscribe to the view that leaders are born or the myth that leadership can be taught in a classroom.  We believe leadership can be LEARNT within an organisational context, where challenges are created which force people out of their comfort zones into an environment where individuals learn from their mistakes and successes and where their behaviour and values are challenged.

Faculty have delivered 65 leadership programmes worldwide.  The pinnacle of bespoke programmes is working with top management teams in developing and cascading their strategies.  We have done this in Barbados’ hotel industry and in the UK’s construction sector.  We have also conducted leadership programmes in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Barbados and Abu Dhabi.

The MANUFACTURING AND HOSPITALITY SECTORS.

The faculty have done programmes in major international manufacturing companies such as Shell, British Aerospace, Cummins and Verity and in hotel companies in Malaysia and Barbados, which led to Diplomas in Management accredited by Oxford University (UODLE).

The PUBLIC SECTOR.

Faculty members of ICOM have considerable experience of managing parts of major public sector organisations, such as the Greater London Council and the Commonwealth Secretariat.  They also have experience of designing and delivering development programmes for the Governments of Malawi, Botswana, Barbados, Abu Dhabi and Brunei, together with major parts of the UK Civil Service and National Health Service.  In addition, they have been responsible for reviewing total civil services as commissioners.

All this experience has been channelled into a programme specifically designed for the cabinets and permanent secretaries of emerging market economies.  This focuses on developing implementation CAPABILITIES at the top and how the national plans can be cascaded effectively into the civil services and out into the wealth creating sectors.