New series of Inside the Factory coming soon

An eighth series of Inside the Factory, an OU/BBC co-production, starts on BBC Two at 9pm on Wednesday 27 December, kicking off with the roast dinner staple Yorkshire Puddings!

Dr Matthew Hinton, OUBS Senior Lecturer, is one of three OU academic consultants for the programme which will continue to air in early January.

The series features Gregg Wallace (pictured) and Cherry Healey as they hit factory floors across Britain for a snoop around supersized production lines, lifting the lid on the secrets behind some of these supermarket and household staples. As well as the production of Yorkshire Puddings, this series also explores Jelly Beans, Jeans, Stuffed Pasta, Stout, Bath Bombs, Carpets, Chocolate Bars, Sofas and Paint.

Keep an eye on the Money, Business and Law OU Connect site where you can find extensive resources and information on topics related to this programme and learn more about the history of the factory and how it has evolved over time.

Webinar on the power of introverts proves popular

Earlier this month, Jacqueline Baxter, OUBS’ Professor of Public Leadership and Management, led a popular webinar that explored the strengths of introverts and how organisations can better support introverts to take on leadership roles.

The online event, ‘The Power of Quiet Leadership: A Case for a Quieter Approach’, explored how, in the Global North, leadership has come to be seen as a very extroverted activity. This extrovert ideal has led to some research reporting that 98% are average or above average on the extrovert scale (see The power of quiet leadership - BBC Ideas). But a good deal of research indicates that those who tend to the more introverted side of things can bring many strengths to leadership positions.

More than 500 people registered for this event which attracted some thought-provoking questions from attendees. These included ‘are introverts more challenged by leadership?’ and ‘can introverts learn to be more extroverted and will this affect their leadership?’. If you want to find out more about Jacqueline’s work, you may find these resources helpful:

• Introversion vs. extroversion and how introverts can overcome leadership challenges
• The self-perception of introverts as leaders and perceived barriers to leadership roles
• Follow Jacqueline’s research on LinkedIn

Championing Black leadership at the Inclusive Companies Awards

An OUBS lecturer, Dr Fidele Mutwarasibo (pictured), delivered the keynote address at the Inclusive (Companies) Awards 2023, which celebrates the progression of diversity and inclusion in the UK workforce.

Fidele, who is also Director of the OU’s Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership (CVSL), spoke about the new Black Leadership Empowerment Programme (BLEP), which was developed in response to racial inequalities exposed by the pandemic and highlighted in the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests’ call for racial equity. The programme will be launched with a pilot in Manchester in February 2024.

He said: “It was a great honour and privilege to address an audience which included policymakers, activists, business leaders, media representatives and other stakeholders. It was another fantastic opportunity to talk about BLEP and ask for support on our journey forward. Organisations such as The Prince’s Trust, AutoTrader and Manchester Airport Group are already on board and we’re now hoping others will join to increase our reach and capacity.”

Activist Anna sheds light on gender-based violence

Dr Anna Hopkins, Lecturer in Policing Organisation and Practice, has raised awareness of the United Nations’ ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’ campaign by holding a shoe exhibition at the Gregson Centre in Lancaster.

Anna, who actively researches violence against women and girls, displayed 16 pairs of shoes – eight pairs painted red to remember those killed by domestic violence, and eight more blue to remember those who took their own lives as a result of domestic violence they had experienced.

In the UK, shockingly, a woman is murdered as a result of domestic violence every two days and it is estimated around three women a week die by suicide as a result of domestic violence.

Anna also ran 5k every day from 25 November – 10 December, totalling 80k, with each of the runs dedicated to one of the women’s stories in the shoe exhibition.

SHORT COURSE SPOTLIGHT: Communication skills in the digital world

This course will take you through a range of the changes in the field of communication in our ever-evolving digital world. The course details a variety of communication tools and practical advice from both professionals and academics to help individuals in society and at work understand how to help shape communications strategically.

Top tips for decision-making in business (Part 1)

In a two-part article, MBA alumnus Keith Grinsted shares his expertise about decision-making in the world of business. Keith is a freelance business writer, who won an OUBS Alumni Award for outstanding contribution to society thanks to his LAUNCHPAD Programme which helps those who are unemployed or facing redundancy to get their career back on track.

In part one, Keith explores the types of decisions that business owners face from day-to-day, whether strategic, tactical or operational, and looks at defining the issues that need to be decided. Read more.

Explore the full careers webinar archive

If you’re thinking about stepping up or changing direction in your career, then it might be worth checking out our archive of career webinar recordings, designed to help you understand what you have to offer and what you want from your career.

Covering a broad range of topics, these recordings are free to access and can be viewed at any time. Perfect if you have some spare time over the holidays.

Some of our most popular topics include:

• How to know your own value and negotiate the best deals for your career
• Psychology of success
• Crazy Busy: How to work fewer hours and be more successful
• Coaching skills for leaders and managers
• Key tips on CVs that win interviews and interviews that win offers

New year, new career?

Get the most out of your career with the ‘Career Maximiser’, a free Continuing Professional Development (CPD)-accredited course for OUBS alumni. It will help you get clear on what you want from your career and better understand your strengths, skills and what you have to offer.

‘Career Maximiser’ will provide you with a framework for evaluating different roles or career options in a consistent and systematic way, allowing you to efficiently narrow down the range of roles and employers that may be suitable for you.

Designed by Jane Barrett, co-founder of The Career Farm (a supplier to top business schools) and a former recruiter, this course is fully interactive so you can start at any time and work through at your own pace. It also gives you a personalised PDF Personal Career Plan – handy to refer back to throughout the journey of your career.

For more information and to register your place, click here.