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RLC Major flies the flag for next generation leaders

An RLC Major has flown the flag for the Corps by attending the Franco-British Young Leaders Programme 2019 Seminar which aims to foster the next generation of 21st century leaders.

Major Sophie J Spencer-Small, SO2 G5 CSS Plans, HQ Force Troops Command, was selected to attend the seminar along with the other 33 selected pioneering young leaders for the programme (17 French and 17 British).

The Franco-British Young Leaders Programme was launched in 2017 by HRH’s The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Supported by both governments it is delivered by the Franco-British Council with support from the French Foreign Ministry and the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and
several private sponsors.

Maj Spencer-Small said: “There is no doubt this programme is an incredible opportunity to both meet other young leaders from across all sectors but also to have some unique and privileged experiences.”

This year’s seminar saw the young leaders visit the House of Commons for a meeting with the Rt Hon John Bercow MP.

There were also visits to The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and meetings with Baroness Tessa Blackstone (Chair of the Franco-British Council) and Hervé Mariton (Chair of the Conseil Franco-Britannique), Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller, former Director-General of MI5 and Brigadier Rob Thomson, British Defence Attaché Paris.

Day two saw a visit to No 10 Downing Street plus meetings with The Rt Hon The Baroness Hale, President of the Supreme Court, George Osborne, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer and The Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury.

The evening was spent in the Guildhall at a Gala Dinner which brought together both
young leaders from across all cohorts and sponsors.

Day three was spent touring the Globe Theatre before heading to the Havas Creative Group to hear the Global CEO, Christ Hirst, speak about his new book on leadership ‘No Bullsh*t Leadership’.

Then it was a trip to the French Ambassador’s Residence to attend a drinks reception hosted by His Excellency Jean-Pierre Jouyet, the French Ambassador to the UK.

The final morning of the programme was spent in the British Library with a visit to the ‘Leonardo da Vinci: A Mind in Motion Exhibition’.

Next year the 2019 cohort will be invited to attend a similar seminar, this time hosted
in Paris. Applications will open for next year’s programme online in Jan 2020.

The Royal Logistic Corps

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