Leading infrastructure group Kier has partnered with world-leading Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, to provide 50 of the Group’s leaders a bespoke artificial intelligence (AI) learning programme.
The programme is titled AI Strategy and Leadership Journey and consists of three-day residential at Oxford’s new Global Leadership Centre, followed by online working group sessions. The programme forms part of Kier’s investment in its people and supports its Naturally Digital strategy. This leadership investment will support the Group’s focus on delivering better outcomes for its customers through its people and the way they apply technology in project delivery.
The collaboration is intended to equip leaders with the insight and theory as well as practical understanding and confidence to identify opportunities, make informed decisions and lead transformation within their areas of responsibility. It supports Kier’s ambition to turn technology, data and AI into tangible business outcomes, including improved productivity and new ways of working.
Stuart Togwell, chief executive of Kier, said:
Our approach to becoming Naturally Digital is to always have humans at the helm, and by investing in our leadership capabilities we are equipping them with what they need to make informed, responsible and safe decisions. Through our collaboration with Saïd Business School, we are exploring how artificial intelligence can help us improve safety, work more efficiently and deliver greater value for our customers and communities. The real measure of success will be how we apply this learning across Kier. Our leaders will now take these insights back into the business, share them with colleagues and identify practical opportunities that support our growth ambitions and help us shape the future of infrastructure.
The programme reflects Kier’s focus on building leadership and organisational capability as it responds to rapid technological, economic and industry change.
Following the in-person Oxford sessions, participants will continue working with Oxford in cross-business Growth Groups to develop opportunities for application across Kier. This next stage collaboration with Oxford is intended to carry the learning beyond the classroom, turning new perspectives into considered action and, ultimately, better outcomes for Kier’s people, customers and communities.
Oxford University Professor Andrew Stephen, Academic Director of the programme said:
As businesses seek to transform their strategies and operations to take full advantage of AI, it is impressive to see Kier Group’s leaders embrace the opportunity with such openness and enthusiasm. We are proud to be working alongside them to develop the leadership capabilities needed to turn AI’s potential into practical, valuable, and responsible applications across the business. Given Kier’s vital role in building and maintaining national infrastructure, the benefits could extend well beyond the business to the communities and economy it serves.
This is the latest milestone the Group has taken to support its Naturally Digital ambitions, with a renewed partnership with Microsoft announced earlier this year. The Group has also introduced new digital tools as well as agents into its ways of working, including in health and safety.