Just got back from two weeks of touring the UK - catching up with some of A4e's new and not so new offices. Meeting loads of new staff and some old timers.  I have had a great time - very exhausting - but - I learn so much. 

Some of the stuff I learn means I can get little things put right quickly - some of the stuff makes me think about much bigger long term things we can do. I met a great tutor called Stephanie in our Newcastle office - doing inspirational work with our clients. I just hope that other people take the time out to see her work - and use all the best bits to help our clients. I also met a young woman who had recently been helping to set up our new French office. She was very enthusiastic and asked me how to put her name forward to do more - I hear she has been in contact with Roy Newey ( Development and International Development) already. Good stuff.

In Norfolk I was asked to do a speech to the leaders of Norfolk in a conference called Shaping Norfolk's Future - it was very well attended - 300+ people. I caused a stir by asking all the Local Authority people to stand up - they were mostly huddled together - not meeting anyone new. I am sure that if I had asked other groups they would all be sitting together too. The conference was about how to encourage entrepreneurial behavior in Norfolk - obviously my first message - talk to someone new - so I asked everybody to move seats and meet someone new - learn something new - perhaps think something new. Simple really and something that entrepreneurs would naturally do.

Off to Wales next week - to learn some more stuff. Marvellous.