'The Waterloo training gave us interesting insights on military theories and possible parallel with the corporate world. Unique set-up with more 'field work' than class-room time! Mission Command principles helped the team to refocus on the essentials, especially during crisis times. Passion, expertise and diversity from the Corporate Battlefield staff allowed us to regain motivation, put things into perspective, and provided a spot-on feedback session. Great lessons to be learned.

Bernhard Lang - Financial Director Lilly

Sanitech : The Isandlwana Experience

Sanitech through the build up and including the World Cup in South Africa 2010 had experienced unprecedented growth and major achievements. The Event challenge was how to regroup, refocus and combat increasing competition as the market returns to normality?

The brief given to Corporate Battlefields was to create greater awareness of our competitors’ key capabilities and to use Sanitech’s capabilities in order to combat these strengths by providing practical tools to achieve this. The Event was conducted at the Battlefield of Isandlwana in Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa.

"Travelling to and being immersed in the battlefields of Kwa Zulu Natal set the scene for the learning experience. The introduction to Mission Command, followed by practical explanation in a true life battlefield environment resulted in an experience that will not be forgotten. Being able to relive the events of Isandlwana first hand through the expertise of the knowledgeable guides, where they related the key aspects of war strategy and how this relates to business, cemented the learning experience."

"All the delegates left with a new sense of purpose, empowerment and mutual trust of their colleagues and with the lessons learned from Isandlwana, about not underestimating the competition, has resulted in a highly energized management team ready to take on any challenge! Thank you to Graeme and Paul, who were able to seamlessly integrate theory and practical to deliver on the brief and provide a truly unforgettable experience." Robert Erasmus
Managing Director, Sanitech

Leventhorpe School : The Wattisham Experience

A twin Event looking at the human aspects of leadership for Leventhorpe’s Senior Leadership Team. The Wattisham Experience was delivered at the home of the Army's Apache Attack Helicopter Force at Wattisham in Suffolk.

"Thanks to the team at Corporate Battlefields for their completely professional approach to the organisation and delivery of the whole experience. The venue was innovative and thought provoking which made us all start to think outside the box. The use of historical context was excellent and we came away being able to draw parallels with leadership and management in education and the military."
Jon Locke
Head Teacher Senior Leadership Team, The Leventhorpe School

Wessex Water Services Limited : The Waterloo Experience

"A very useful insight of Mission Command theory and how it can be applied to the corporate world.  The battlefield and office were brought together, in a evocative manner, on the ground where thousands of men gave their lives. "
Jon Weeks
Wessex Water Services Limited

Brother UK : The Wattisham Experience

A second leadership Event for Phil Jones and his 50 strong Sales Team this year. The Wattisham Experience was delivered at the home of the Army's Apache Attack Helicopter Force at Wattisham in Suffolk. The Event aim was to reinforce the Mission Command leadership process by exampling the process elements that the Army use which enables an organisation to punch above its weight, often under resourced, underfunded and under manned. Mission Command was introduced to Brother UK at The Naseby Experience Event in April.

"Being in the fields of Naseby and visualising how a key battle in the English Civil war can influence how you drive your team in the modern day, was a really interesting and stimulating day for the whole team. They've come away inspired and with a new sense of clarity about what the mission of the business is and how they contribute to it we've won hearts and minds along the way. Philip Trousdell was brilliant and kept the whole team on the edge of their seats, an inspiring character."
Phil Jones
Sales and Marketing Director, Brother UK

Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS)

A 24 hour overnight Event for Senior Directors to visit the Army's Apache attack helicopters at the home of the UK Apache Force at Wattisham in Suffolk. The CIPS Group, all with an interest in Procurement, were drawn from organisations as diverse as BAA, the BBC, Stagecoach, Transport for London and QinetiQ. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Health were also represented.

CB were able to arrange unprecedented access to the stunning Apache helicopter force, including cockpit tours conducted by army pilots who have just returned from active service in Afghanistan and a briefing from a ground crew on rearming an Apache on operations.

Based for the entire programme in the Officer's Mess at Wattisham, the Group were briefed by the Apache Force Commander on the issues associated with deploying the Apache into the British Army and organisation and supply issues which result from operating the force in both peace and wartime. As Apaches flew training missions overhead, the Group were also able to see the process by which helicopters are returned from the war zone and are totally overhauled back to operational readiness by small teams all operating individually but cohesively.

"I was delighted to open the session. This was an exciting, new and innovative departure, developing the success of traditional CIPS' strategic forums to offer groundbreaking networking opportunities to CIPS Leaders' Network members."
Gerard Chick
Head of Business & Product Development,
Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply

UPS Europe

"I highly recommend the Waterloo Battlefield Strategy Seminar to businesspeople who are looking for tools to help in decision-making under stressful conditions. The powerful experience of being on the very ground where such an important event took place, led by passionate and expert guides and business consultants, sharpens the focus on the key learnings that are transmitted."
Frank Sportolari
Vice President European Strategy, UPS Europe

HSBC

"Can I just take this opportunity again to express my thanks for Friday — the level of engagement amongst the grads not only in the historical context but also the emotional awareness was fantastic as was the dedication and commitment shown by the team — I hope it is an experience we can repeat for future grads! Thanks again for all your hard work"
Charlotte Fordham
Graduate Recruitment & Development Manager
Executive Management Trainees and Human Resources, HSBC

Unilever

"This approach is a fertile ground for management training. The battle of Waterloo and the events that preceded it proved to be incredibly rich in content and provided a marvellous set of occurrences around which multiple teachable moments could be constructed. These range across virtually all corporate issues: Leadership, Strategy Formation, Operational Excellence, Information and Intelligence, Communication, Decision Taking, HR and Focus."
Mike Shepherd
VP Competitor Intelligence HPC Category, Unilever

British American Tobacco

"It's learning, but in a different context from what you're used to. You're out there in the open air where things actually happened. It beats a PowerPoint in a lecture hall, 10 out of 10."
David Kingma
Corporate Social Reporting Manager, British American Tobacco

Belgacom

"I appreciated the simplicity of the tools presented at the workshops. The methodology was very clear and simple, and that's good because we need simple tools to make decisions very quickly. My only regret was that the history lessons themselves were given only by the winning side – the victor's prerogative, perhaps. It might have been very interesting to have another angle, another point of view, and confront these two views. Still, it was a rich experience that I'm sure I will never forget."
Karel Vankeirsbilck
Vice President, Internal Services, Belgacom

Sky News

"What Waterloo teaches us, above all, is to work out what you want to do, and do it. This is applicable not just for the military, but in terms of business as well."
Crispin Black
Sky News Intelligence Analyst

Conference Board Europe : The Waterloo Experience.

A 2 day ‘Open Event’ for The Conference Board which studied the processes of the Leadership model of Mission Command using the Napoleonic battlefield of Waterloo in Belgium. Representatives from MasterCard and Wessex Water joined other Conference Board Clients.

"Effective decision making under pressure is a key competency of senior executives in today's less predictable business environment. Walking the ancient battlefields of Waterloo brings alive again those defining moments where decisions finally led to victory or defeat. A very insightful programme not only for amateur military historians."
Rainer Schultheis
Executive Fellow — The Conference Board Europe

Higgs International Publishing Logistics

"An excellent weekend. Well balanced to suit the group–clearly in the hands of a highly respected professional."
Richard Jenkins
Higgs International Publishing Logistics

HMS Ark Royal

"Many thanks for looking after the Ark Royal Command Group so magnificently at Waterloo. It was a battlefield tour that was full of relevance for the challenges we face today — at sea! I speak for the whole team when I say that our thoughts on leadership have been really invigorated by our ten hours replaying a land battle under your expert tutorage. It really was very good and we are all extremely grateful to you."
Captain J R H Clink OBE
The Commanding Officer HMS Ark Royal
Navy Command, Royal Navy