To help support their graduates and apprentices
Earlier this year, the ASC and Fujitsu successfully launched the first Fujitsu Speakers Club, aimed at supporting their graduates and apprentices both in the UK and further afield with their public speaking skills. The club launched online and is the first of a number of ASC corporate clubs launching this year.
Supporting companies as they support their teams
The ASC public speaking programme provides a structured, well-paced and encouraging environment for individuals to improve their public speaking and presenting skills. Each meeting offers the chance for members to deliver a prepared speech (each speech aimed at demonstrating a new skill), or of practicing other skills such as chairing a meeting, delivering an impromptu speech or delivering feedback.
In order to get a new corporate club off the ground, experienced speakers from the ASC start by hosting a demonstration meeting. Thereafter, each corporate meeting is supported by the ASC, with the corporate members gradually taking on more roles and responsibilities as they learn the ropes and grow in confidence. Participants are assigned a mentor to work with them and everyone is provided with constructive and encouraging feedback throughout the process.
Success at Fujitsu
The Fujitsu club launched with a mixture of 11 apprentices and graduates and the programme is overseen by HR Director Sarah Wadsworth and Head of Talent Nick White for Fujitsu and Catherine Williamson, National President of the ASC. It’s supported by a core team of four ASC members and will continue to operate as a virtual club. Since its launch earlier this summer, four members from Fujitsu have been allocated a mentor and given their first speech.
Sarah Wadsworth, UK HR Director explains why she believes this is such an important project for Fujitsu and how the club has developed so far:
“Being able to talk naturally and confidentially in front of small, medium and larger groups of people is a skill many of us have to hone be that in person or now increasing over a virtual platform. I am delighted and humbled by the wealth of talent, experience and encouragement that the ASC members and mentors have given to the first Fujitsu Speakers Club. The Fujitsu participants are learning, experimenting and growing in a safe environment and, I think, having great fun!”
Nick White, Head of Junior Talent at Fujitsu recently added further endorsement,
“The Speakers Club has been great for us here at Fujitsu. In an incredibly short amount of time, our participants are quickly developing their confidence, making an impact and learning about presence. It’s such a unique way of developing speaking and presentation skills that normal corporate programmes can’t deliver. The feedback from everyone taking part has been palpable and I’m looking forward to watching everyone progress even further!”
But what of the participants themselves?
“The Speakers Club is definitely a great opportunity not only to improve on public speaking skills and confidence levels, but it has also been thought-provoking in uncovering the level of detail and planning behind an effective delivery. As someone who is naturally introverted, I was quite nervous to take part initially, though after the first session I was immediately put at ease as it became clear the Speakers Club was a safe and entertaining environment for us all to work on our own development.” explains Julia Raho, a Fujitsu graduate.
And Laura Yarwood, another Fujitsu graduate seems to agree, “Participating in the Speakers Club is enabling me to develop my confidence and public speaking skills in a safe, fun and interactive environment. It’s a great way to step outside of your comfort zone whilst learning from and being supported by others.”
The ASC
The ASC has been helping people with their public speaking, personal development and leadership skills for the best part of 50 years. During the course of that time, we’ve helped hundreds if not thousands of individuals overcome their fear of public speaking and many of them have gone on to become great orators. We’ve also supported a number of corporate clubs and as the ASC goes from strength to strength and many clubs return to meeting in person, the ASC is now looking forward to supporting many more.
Leave a Reply