20 March 2018

On 15 March, Costain's behavioural management team hosted its sixth behavioural management conference at Stratford Manor, Warwickshire. This year the team welcomed more than 160 delegates to the conference including clients and guests from 23 companies making it the largest event to date. The conference was also hugely over-subscribed demonstrating an increased appetite for the subject.

The behavioural management team was delighted to welcome not one, but two key-note speakers from the Cambridge Center for Behavioural Studies, based in Massachusetts, USA.

Dr Timothy Ludwig and Dr Angela Lebbon, behavioural safety leadership specialist, both serve on the Cambridge Center’s behavioural safety accreditation board which reviews best-in-industry safety practices and offers independent, objective feedback on safety programmes. This will be the third time that Costain has undergone a rigorous assessment to retain its world-class accreditation; the only company in the UK to hold this ranking for its safety programme.

This year’s conference theme was centred around ‘implementing change’ with a range of presentations covering topics from building connections to mental health. Presenters shared in-depth knowledge and experience of implementing change in companies and across projects using behaviourally sound techniques, offering delegates a wealth of know-how and expertise to take back to their respective companies and projects.

“Seeing the community that Costain’s behavioural management team has built is particularly gratifying for those of us who have spent our career spreading the science of behaviour.  Britain is in good hands.” said Dr Ludwig.

Another speaker at the event, Dave Bright, who leads Tata Steel UK’s transformational programme ‘Working Better Together’ commented: “I really enjoyed listening to a breadth and depth of speakers and meeting like-minded people who are searching for the people and behaviour difference that will help lead our way through the challenging business circumstances or ‘whirlwinds’ we all find ourselves in. With some simple, yet profound tools if applied by the ‘user’ correctly, we can clearly have a massive impact on organisations and so sharing and learning in these sessions are essential. I especially enjoyed the ‘real life’ examples that people have been faced with and have overcome with amazing resilience and application.”

“It was a highly informative and motivating day with excellent contributions from all the presenters. I thought that the mix of both internal and external contributors was inspired and I can honestly say that I took a way a ‘whirlwind’ of different ideas and approaches”, said Andy Hudspith CEng MICE, project manager, London Power Tunnels project.

Graeme Mitchell, director – southern projects at Cementation Skanska – southern business stream said: “I’m so glad I was able to secure a place. The speakers were all fantastic, very professional, and inspirational too.  I can honestly say I’ve never enjoyed a seminar more than yesterday’s.  Hope I can get a place on the 7th edition!”

Costain’s director of behavioural management, Claire Fryer, said: “The diversity of presentations clearly demonstrates how behavioural principles can lead to benefits in the workplace, our personal lives and our wellbeing. To have Dr Tim Ludwig and Dr Angela Lebbon share their knowledge and experience with delegates throughout the day and through their key-note speeches was fantastic.”

Ends