Innovative, collaborative learning
Business leaders often have far more in common than they realise. As part of our work with Islington Council, Action for Race Equality has delivered Action Learning Sets to encourage problem-solving, and build collaborative learning practices across Islington.
an eye-opener to what other people are doing”
Enterprise Support Programme participant, 2022
What are they?
Action Learning Sets (ALS) were developed in the 1940s by Reginald Revans, a university professor and scientist, as a new way for managers to learn and develop together.
The ALS rely on a group learning activity where one individual (the presenter), presents an issue they are facing whilst the rest of the group (the members), ask clarifying questions to probe further, and make the presenter think through the problem themselves.
The presenter is then able to take away realistic actions to apply to their business. The other members of the set find they may be able to adapt the solution to help their business too.
Participant perspectives
Discover what local business leaders thought about these unique exercises.
These were used on the Enterprise Support Programme (Chrystle, Isang, Mini, Harman), as well as the Inclusive Entrepreneur’s Programme (Dunya, Majida)
Why does ARE use Action Learning Sets?
Action Learning Sets have had many benefits for those involved, whatever the topic may be, including:
- Increasing efficiency and profits by identifying areas of improvement in a business.
- Supporting skill development by learning from others in the group.
- Improving problem-solving capabilities by making the participants think of solutions themselves for the issue faced.
- Increasing overall learning of a topic by hearing different perspectives and experiences.
- Promoting leadership abilities by encouraging each participant to fully contribute to the exercise.
Isang Obot – Make Up Artist
Divine House of Make-up
Isang started her business, Divine House of Make-up, in 2018 and has gradually been expanding it since by attending beauty tradeshows and exhibitions; by becoming a member of an exclusive Nigerian start-up community, and by contacting beauty influencers to send them products and setting up a website and social media accounts.
Her challenge? Marketing her business and products to stand out from other brands, as well as raising awareness of the brand itself.