Hellmann UK delivers the chance for company's talent to sparkle: Development program for managers of the future

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a program at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics UK to encourage internal promotions and to award talented employees with deserved recognition.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper explains how TalentPool puts ten specially selected employees through a number of key development modules, providing them with the skills to climb the company's career ladder.

Findings

The paper lists the seven development modules, in areas including management training, presentation skills, health and safety, finance for non‐finance managers and general product training. Reveals that the final test is a presentation before members of the UK board. Coursework is set after each module and marked to help to determine a TalentPool “top achiever”.

Practical implications

The paper reveals TalentPool to be part of the company's overall quest to create and sustain a stimulating and empowering environment that attracts, retains and nurtures high‐performing employees.

Originality/value

The paper highlights how employee recruitment at management level in an industry such as freight forwarding is tough, especially when it is not particularly recognized as a higher‐education subject or vocational path in the UK. It shows how one company came to the conclusion that it would therefore have to produce high‐caliber staff internally.

Citation

(2009), "Hellmann UK delivers the chance for company's talent to sparkle: Development program for managers of the future", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 17 No. 2, pp. 27-29. https://doi.org/10.1108/09670730910940267