NAVY NEWS, SEPTEMBER 2007 23
The Royal Navy writes on the issues affecting you
WOs put the
RN world
Project Fisher team
to rights
PERSONNEL-related issues,
charities, pensions and the British
Legion were among the topics
discussed on the first morning of
the seventh Naval Service WO1
trawls for answers
Fast-track
opportunity
Conference at HMS Collingwood.
for managers
The afternoon session included
COMMODORE Ian
evolutionary, not revolutionary,
ROYAL Navy personnel have
high-level briefs from the Special
Corder, the man heading
building on the work that has gone
an opportunity to develop
Reconnaissance Regiment and the
before but looking beyond the management and leadership skills
Human Intelligence Corps.
up Project Fisher – the
conventional approaches,” he said. through a new partnership with the
The activity continued into the
Navy Board’s new flexible “Effectively Fisher is the Chartered Management Institute.
evening, when delegates received
logical next step on the path As part of the alliance, individuals
further updates and information
manning initiative – has a
trodden by Topmast and branch of all ranks will be able to gain fast-
with informal drinks and tough job on his hands.
development.” track membership of the Institute,
presentations in the SRs Mess. He and his small dedicated
For people inside the Service giving them access to nationally-
There was also a working dinner
team have got to grasp the
it might mean a break from recognised qualifications, career
where the guest of honour was
nettle and transform the way
expectations and traditional advice and a UK network of
conference sponsor Vice Admiral
the Navy mans its ships – employment paths, but it promises widely-experienced managers.
Adrian Johns, Second Sea Lord.
a future where an individual’s own As part of the alliance,
Also in attendance were two
as their project’s namesake
skills, career and needs are better the Institute has mapped its
other members of the Navy Board,
Admiral ‘Jackie’ Fisher did
balanced within their ship or membership levels with the
Vice Admiral Trevor Soar, Chief
almost one hundred years ago.
of Material (Fleet), and Rear
“Best known as the man who
submarine’s working life. Royal Navy’s own ranking system
Admiral Alan Massey, ACNS.
introduced dreadnoughts and
Finally one tenet remains at the and promotion courses, with
In addition, the Flag Officer
submarines, Admiral Fisher also
core of any approach to change midshipmen and petty officers
Sea Training, the Naval Secretary,
brought about a whole range of
– “Fighting spirit and ethos are equating to the Associate Member
Flag Officer Scotland, Northern
forward-looking changes to the
fundamental to our business. level, lieutenants and warrant
England and Northern Ireland and
employment of naval personnel
“We can have the best officers equating to full Members.
also a number of 2SL’s personnel
– and that’s what we need to do
manned, best equipped ships and Sailors can also widen their
directors were at dinner.
now,” said Cdre Corder.
submarines in the world but they knowledge by attending local
Day two concentrated on
Flexible manning is not a simple
will come to nothing without the branch events on business issues,
● Cdre Ian Corder (right) discusses manning issues with offi cers on
personnel matters, kicking off with
equation. There is no easy answer
board HMS Edinburgh
will and determination to fight, where they can meet other
a brief on manpower figures and
to the problem of an increased
and to fight together as a team. managers and build their contacts.
Navy looks at different, and where “There is going to be extensive
manning issues.
operational tempo, potentially
“This aspect will be absolutely Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral
necessary, innovative solutions to consultation. We are specifically
Then syndicates discussed
longer deployments, and the need
fundamental to all our Adrian Johns said: “The nature of
its future manning.” going out to the fleet, flotillas and
matters including:
to have the right people on board
deliberations.” the Navy’s business demands the
He states simply: “If we continue squadrons to get their inputs.”
Flexible Manning – how best
with the right know-how.
Fisher is to become the central highest standards in leadership and
marina
as we are we will have a Navy that “We’re going to experiment
can we man ships in the future?
This all has to be balanced with
component of the Navy Board’s management from its personnel
struggles to meet the challenges of – take the good points and discard
WO1 Employment – how best
the need for people to have breaks
personnel agenda, championed across the rank structure.
marina
the future.”
can we sustain employment of the
between deployments to look after
the bad and plan the next step
personally by 2SL. “To allow our people to meet
The Navy and its sailors face
WO1 in the future?
their home lives and prepare for
based on real practical experience
There is unlikely to be a ‘one these demands, the Service pays
tough demands in terms of
The Moral Component – how
their next tour of duty.
of what works and what doesn’t.” size fits all’ answer, but rather a considerable attention to ensure
marina
operations, equipment and skills.
best can our people realise our
Already out in the Fleet there
Cdre Corder acknowledges mosaic picture that reflects the individuals are given the appropriate
fighting power?
are various approaches in action
“As an example, a Type 42 that there are some real problems
differing aspects of the fleet, which training and experience.
The sessions were facilitated by
– some have been in place for
destroyer has a company of brewing in the future, but he makes
together provide the Navy with “It is therefore very gratifying
subject matter experts from Fleet
years, some are just coming to the
around 270. A Type 45 has a it clear that the Navy Board is
sufficient flexibility to deal with to me personally, as the principal
HQ; there was much discussion
end of their trial runs.
significantly smaller company, but prepared to try new ideas and new
future operational demands, yet personnel officer, to have these
and “blue-sky” thinking – food for
The commodore explained:
will need the same number of
approaches to avoid the pitfalls. safeguard the careers and lifestyles skills formally endorsed by the
thought for HQ.
“There are already a range of
officers and senior rates – most of
“Project Fisher is to be of its people. CMI.”
The final event was a lively
systems in use that we can look at –
the reduction is in junior ratings
plenary session, chaired by
three-watch rotations in some of the
positions,” he said.
2SL, with the panel comprising
survey ships, SSBN two-crewing,
“Whilst this is great for the
members of the Navy Board and
and some of the sophisticated
promotion prospects of those in
other senior admirals present.
schemes in use by the RFA.”
the system now, those senior people
More recently HMS Edinburgh
have to come from somewhere – we
Graphics staff
has just come home with HMS
need to develop our junior rates in
Exeter’s crew on board after a
terms of skill and experience to
South Atlantic sea swap.
grow them to become the senior
make mark
In the Gulf minehunters HMS
rates of tomorrow.
Blyth and Ramsey welcome rotating
“If we don’t look at how we
crews from MCM1 Sandowns.
man our ships and find another
SEVEN staff at the RN Graphics
And HMS Endurance will head
way, it will lead to a structural
Centre in Portsmouth have been
south next year for an 18-month
imbalance in manpower.”
recognised for their exceptionally
deployment, with sailors arriving
The project team is clear that it
high degree of professional skills.
and departing in small numbers is not just about finding an answer
Five were awarded membership
throughout the time away. to the needs of the Fleet.
of the Chartered Society of
“Trials like sea swap are just “If, in its approach to manning,
Designers (CSD), with the other
that – trials. We’re looking at the the Navy can be more agile,” said
two receiving fellowships.
good bits and the bad bits,” said CPO Steve Legg, one of the three
The awards were presented by
Cdre Corder. senior rates currently in the team,
John Sermon, president of the
“This is not about putting the “then we will get better outcomes
CSD.
entire Service into a sea swap, or – not just for the Service, but for
In order to achieve membership
into any of the other options that the individual sailor.”
designers must have a recognised
we are considering. He stressed: “This has real
academic qualifications, have been
“It’s going to be a mixture of potential benefits for everyone if
a practising designer for a number
manning solutions.” we get it right.”
of years and undergo a stringent
“But it is essential that the CPO Jason King agreed:
assessment with a comprehensive
portfolio of work which was
judged against the best of their
peer in industry.
Mr Sermon said that he was
surprised at the diversity of the
work carried out by RN Graphics
Centre for the RN and impressed
with the very high standard
overall, which covering all aspects
of graphics design.
He also noted that the
Centre had achieved the highest
percentage pass rate of any
organisation assessed by the
society.
The award ceremony was
attended by Capt Mark Windsor
RN, line manager of the RNGC,
● CINCFLEET Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent meets staff at the
who congratulated the team on
Maritime Warfare Centre, HMS Collingwood
their awards, adding it was just
recognition for a highly-regarded
team of professionals. Admiral goes to MWC
It’s your 2-6
CINCFLEET Admiral James plaque to mark the official
Burnell-Nugent has opened opening, CINCFLEET
the Maritime Warfare Centre at emphasised the importance of
NEED to get your message its new home in Marlborough MWC’s Operational Knowledge
across to the rest of the RN? Building, HMS Collingwood. Exploitation (OKX) work, as
To feature in 2-6 contact Lt Previously situated at Portsdown reported on in our July edition,
Cdr Dave Joyce at Fleet Media Technology Park and Southwick highlighting the recent foiled
Ops on 93832 8809 or Lt Cdr Park, MWC is now well-integrated terrorist attacks in London and
Harvey Burwin at DPR(N) on as a lodger at Fareham. Glasgow as prime examples of
9621 85984. In addition to unveiling a why lesson management is key.
0022-023_NN_SEP.indd 222-023_NN_SEP.indd 2 117/8/07 14:47:527/8/07 14:47:52
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