Common Purpose UK

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Common Purpose UK is an influential educational charity delivering a range of leadership training

programmes to decision-makers drawn from all sectors of society.

The company states that what differentiates it from other leadership programme providers is its emphasis on
the benefits for all those who participate in its programmes, and their employing organisations, of engaging
constructively with the communities in which they live and work. It was founded in 1989 by current CEO,
Julia Middleton.[1] Its registered office is in London.

The legal status of Common Purpose is that of a charity. In 2006 it has employed 142 people and received an
income of £6,394,656. The objects of Common Purpose are the advancement of education for the public
benefit with special emphasis on civil and social awareness and responsibility. The company states it aims to
improve the way society works by expanding the vision, decision-making ability and influence of all kinds of
leaders. [2]

Common Purpose claims that more than 120,000 people have been involved in Common Purpose and 25,000
leaders from every area of the UK have completed one or more of their programmes.[3] Further Common
Purpose claims that 70 per cent of the FTSE 100 companies have used their programmes to develop their
leaders. [4][5]

Common Purpose also regularly commissions research on contemporary management issues. [6][7][8]

Contents
1 Trustees
2 Notable past participants
3 Notable comments
4 Criticism
5 References
6 External links

Trustees
Chris Mathias, Chair, CMG partners (Chair)
Andrew Cubie, Senior Partner, Fyfe Ireland
Anu Omideyi, Barrister, Furnival Chambers
David Bell, Director for People, Pearson Plc
Simon Darling, Founder, Quiet Riots
Mark Adams, Netcare Healthcare
James Ramsbotham, Chief Executive, NE Chamber of Commerce
Kieran McPolin, Financial Controller, Openreach
Lucy de Groot, Executive Director, Improvement & Development Agency
Vincent McGinlay, Retired Director of Supply Chain and Technology, Marks & Spencer plc
Pam Chesters, Chair, Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
Olu Olanrewaju, Managing Director, Urban/Focus Heart Ltd
Miriam Mulcahy, Independent Media Consultant

Notable past participants

Jeremy Beecham, former Chairman, Labour National Executive Committee
 Chris Bryant, Member of Parliament for Rhondda
Baron Gordon of Strathblane, Scottish businessman
Rt Revd John Inge, Bishop of Worcester
Janet Paraskeva, First Civil Service Commissioner
Sir Charles Pollard, former Chief Constable, Thames Valley Police
Baden Skitt, member, Criminal Cases Review Commission

Notable comments
"Young people have so much to offer to society. Common Purpose has recognised this through their
leadership development programmes and award schemes that develop and celebrate the potential of
young people. The more active, informed young people there are making a positive contribution to their
local schools and communities." - Zenna Atkins, Chair of OFSTED
"Common Purpose programmes deliver a fascinating insight into global and national trends and issues,
through a unique combination of world-class speakers, actual field visits, and a richly diverse group of
participants from all walks of the public and private sector world. Hugely thought-provoking." - Steve
Peacock, Director, BP North Sea
"The most enlightening, informative and challenging programme. The standard both of presenters and
participants was first rate. The opportunity to explore a whole range of strategic influences in such an
imaginative way was invaluable." - Stuart Middleton, head of Group Management, HBOS plc
"Of all the leadership programmes that I know of, those run by Common Purpose are by far the best, you
only have to see the lasting effect on those who have participated in them to know that they work and
work well. Civil society in a wide range of countries has benefited hugely from Common Purpose." -
Professor Charles Handy, Management writer and broadcaster

Criticism
Common Purpose has been the subject of a series of publications circulated by writer Christopher Story,[9] a
former adviser to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher,[10] and Eurosceptic [11] Brian Gerrish who claim that its
aim is to control the United Kingdom and ultimately merge it into an EU police state. Gerrish has stated that
Common Purpose wants "to kill you".[12] Similar criticism of the organisation has come from the Campaign
for an Independent Britain, British National Party, and the United Kingdom Independence Party, largely on
Euro-sceptic ground: however, much of the criticism levied at Common Purpose UK is identical to that made
in left-wing commentator George Monbiot's book Captive State, which condemned governmental and public
organisations deliberately ignoring people's wishes and either side stepping or subverting the democratic
process out of a sense of 'we know better'.

Common Purpose trustees recently issued a brief response to these criticisms on their website.[13]

Common Purpose has members in the NHS, BBC, the police, Parliament, the legal profession, many of
Britains 7,000 quangos, local councils, the Civil Service, various levels of government, ministries, and many
RDAs (Regional Development Agencies). Common Purpose involves networking and achieving the common
aims of its members, and so with members in these positions of power.

Some websites claim that over £100 million of taxpayers money has been spent on Common Purpose courses
alone, and say that this has been hidden from the public. Members names are not disclosed. It charges
substantial figures for its courses. "Matrix" for example, costs £3,950 plus VAT, and courses for the high
flying ‘leader’ can be as much as £5,950 plus VAT.

References
1. ^ "Citation by the Public Orator-designate for Common Purpose" (PDF). University of Newcastle. May 4, 2005.
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/press.office/newslink/common_purpose.pdf.
2. ^ Common Purpose UK – Report and Financial Statements
(http://www.commonpurpose.co.uk/System/aspx/GetFile.aspx?id=5903) Year ended 31 July 2006 (pdf)
3. ^ Common Purpose United Kingdom (http://www.commonpurpose.co.uk/home/aboutus.aspx) About Us page
4. ^ Common Purpose United Kingdom (http://www.commonpurpose.co.uk/home/programmes.aspx) Overview of
programmes
 5. ^ Common Purpose United Kingdom (http://www.commonpurpose.co.uk/home/aboutus/sponsors.aspx) List of
sponsors
6. ^ "Are you helping your talent to blossom?" (http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/workplace-
advice/2007/11/leadershipdevelopmentcareertra.html) Personnel Today
7. ^ "Beyond the tick-box culture" (http://www.management-issues.com/2007/6/11/opinion/beyond-the-tick-box-
culture.asp) Management Issues
8. ^ "A poor reflection of the work we do" (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/oct/24/voluntarysector.features3)
The Guardian 24 October 2007
9. ^ Christopher Story, What Next For British Brainwashing Offensive?
(http://www.worldreports.org/news/7_what_next_for_britis) , World Reports, 3 March 2006
10. ^ Gordon Thomas, A Day In The Life Of Hussein (http://www.european-
magazine.com/meses/2004/septiembre/investigation3.htm) , The European Magazine, September 2004
11. ^ Brian Gerrish, http://www.eutruth.org Common Purpose speech Leicester 15/09/07 ]
12. ^ *Brian Gerrish presentation to the Campaign for an Independent Britain (http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?
docid=3664960863576873594&hl=en-GB) (2 hour video), October 15, 2007
13. ^ Letter from Common Purpose trustees on media coverage
(http://www.commonpurpose.co.uk/home/aboutus/trusteestatement.aspx)

External links
Common Purpose official site (http://www.commonpurpose.org.uk/home.aspx)
The Stop Common Purpose Campaign (http://www.stopcp.com/)
Move outside your comfort zone - Guardian.co.uk
(http://business.guardian.co.uk/smes/story/0,,2045427,00.html)
"I'm very good with a hatchet" - Guardian.co.uk
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1732576,00.html)
The Wealth of Experience (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/16/11?gusrc=rss&feed=society)
The Guardian, 16 April 2008 (Article by Julia Middleton)
Be yourself – but know who you are meant to be (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/232dcab8-f44a-11dc-aaad-
0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1) The Financial Times, 17 March 2008 (Comments by Julia
Middleton)
Networking | Generation Y recognise the benefits (http://www.personneltoday.com/blogs/workplace-
advice/2008/05/networking-generation-y-recogn.html) Personnel Today 'Work Clinic' (Research by
Common Purpose and comments by Julia Middleton)

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