In 2010 90,000 people were employed in the UK by Indian firms,
with many more involved in the activities of British firms in India
[1]. Indeed, over 1 million people travel between
the UK and India every year
[2].
There is a growing level of mutual investment between the two
nations, but increased communication and collaboration between
leaders from both countries is needed to support this.
This is why leadership development organisation Common Purpose's Dishaa
Venture aims to expand, enrich and energise relations between
India and the UK by investing in the development of the next
generation of leaders from the two countries.
Common Purpose Ventures bring together diverse groups of leaders
to foster discussion and build shared approaches to 21st century
political, economic and social challenges.
Participants in this, the second Dishaa Venture, are skilled and
respected practitioners in their fields and looking to effect
change both in their organisations and wider society. The diverse
group, 20 from the UK and 20 from India, will come together in
London from 29 November to 3 December to develop their leadership
skills by meeting, interviewing and debating with a range of
leaders, all operating in very different contexts. Bringing this
group together will expand the existing partnerships, friendships
and dialogues that are already taking place between leaders in
India and the UK.
Founder and Chief Executive of Common Purpose Julia Middleton
said: "The links between the UK and India are long standing but
more importantly, they are deep, edgy, thoughtful and
multi-dimensional. By learning together the participants will be
able to enrich the connections between both countries and produce
some very exciting ideas."
"Dishaa showed me that by working together with a diverse group
of people from both the UK and India, there is so much we can do
and so many changes we can make in the world for the better" said
Vandana Saxena Poria, CEO of Get Through Guides Pvt. Ltd and a graduate
of the first Dishaa Venture held in Pune, India in February
2011.
The Dishaa Venture is run in partnership with the British
Foreign & Commonwealth Office and sponsored by United Business
Media (UBM), Tilda, Cisco, Fly Kingfisher and PwC. British Prime
Minister David Cameron is patron of Dishaa and launched the Venture
in July 2010.
Jennifer Duvalier, Group People & Culture Director, UBM
explains why her organisation sponsors the Dishaa Venture: "UBM is
a keen supporter of Dishaa, believing that individuals learn most
powerfully when they have the opportunity to engage with impactful
development experiences and to share their learning journey with a
diverse network of fellow learners."
[1] A transcript of a speech given by the Prime Minister in
Bangalore, India, on 28 July 2010 http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/pms-speech-in-india/
[2] British High Commission New Delhi
http://ukinindia.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/working-with-india/india-uk-relations/