This week marks my first anniversary as Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire ACRE. It is a moment for reflection, not just on the journey the organisation has taken over the past twelve months, but on my own learning and development as a leader.

When I stepped into this role, I was excited by the opportunity to lead such a well-established and respected rural development organisation. But I also knew that leadership is not just about strategy, delivery or decision making. It is also about listening, growing and making space for development, both for myself and for the whole team.

At Cambridgeshire ACRE, we talk a lot about supporting our rural communities to build resilience and thrive. But we can only do that effectively if we apply the same ethos to ourselves. That is why, over the past year, I have encouraged every member of the team to take up opportunities for training and development whenever they have identified a need or interest. From project-specific skills to leadership development and personal growth, the commitment to continual professional development has become embedded across our staff team. It is something I am proud of and something I have worked hard to lead by example.

Earlier this year, I partnered with Cranfield Trust to undertake their Journey to Excellence (J2E©) consultancy programme. This is a comprehensive organisational development tool designed specifically for non-profit organisations. Based on over 30 years of Cranfield Trust’s experience supporting charities and social enterprises, the Journey to Excellence process has helped us to assess how well we operate, identify areas for improvement and build a clear roadmap for future growth and sustainability.

 

We used the programme to support the development of our new organisational strategy, which will launch in the autumn. The Cranfield Trust consultants brought thoughtful challenge and deep insight, helping me to test ideas, explore new approaches and consider the systems and behaviours that underpin excellent organisations. The resulting strategy will shape our direction, our priorities and our ambitions for the next three years.

Completing this process is an achievement I am proud of and I am especially pleased to say that Cambridgeshire ACRE has now been awarded the Journey to Excellence badge by Cranfield Trust. It is a mark of our commitment to quality, learning and continual improvement and we will be sharing it with pride on our website and digital channels in the weeks to come. You can read more about the programme here: Cranfield Trust Journey to Excellence.

More than anything, this year has reaffirmed something I have always believed. Great leadership is rooted in humility and curiosity. I still have much to learn and I hope I always will. But what I know for certain is that investing in your own development and encouraging others to do the same is one of the most powerful things a leader can do.

Thank you to the Cambridgeshire ACRE team for all your support, energy and brilliance over the past year. And thank you to Cranfield Trust for helping us take another step towards excellence.

Here is to the next twelve months.