From Associate to Chartered Status: Stepping Stones for Career and Personal Growth
By Tom Reynolds, Managing Consultant, Mott MacDonald
Tom Reynolds, Managing Consultant at Mott MacDonald, considers his journey from Associate to Chartered status, the importance of high standards, and the positive impact of Chartership in the development of his practice.
Being a Chartered Management Consultant (ChMC) demonstrates, proves and certifies both to me and my clients that I am operating at an externally validated industry standard. It evidences my capability, commitment and dedication to management consultancy, as well as the passion and efforts required to achieve the very best industry standard. It is of course not a badge signifying the end or even the peak of my learning journey, but a certification of my commitment to continuous improvement and dedication to the very highest standards within my profession. It is also a key component of my career at Mott MacDonald, where we strive for all colleagues to be chartered in their practice area, pursuing technical excellence in all we do.
The Associate ChMC was a great stepping stone with clear sign postings and progression to full Chartership. It provided a structure and foundation on which to continue my development and gave me a clear understanding of my personal areas of competency at Foundation and Applied levels. It also helped identify where I needed to focus on building my practice experience and leadership.
For anyone considering starting their Chartered journey, I strongly advise them to start by looking at the competencies, even if they are some years away, then identifying areas to develop and gain experience within them. To hit some of the competencies at Chartered level required me to take ownership of my development, alongside the support of a Chartered mentor to guide me.
The process of gaining the awards at Mott MacDonald was highly structured, starting straight after my first year with the firm with our in-house management consultancy skills and practice development programme. Working towards Associate ChMC followed using a competency audit and identifying the assignments that helped demonstrate both what I do and areas for further development and focus. The full ChMC was a repeat of the process, so knowing what to expect made the professional discussion much less daunting.
The Chartered award is likely to evolve as it adapts to industry and wider changes in our markets and sectors. I’d highly recommend other firms to aim for accreditation. It will be invaluable for colleagues to develop their skills and practice in a structured way whilst working towards achieving an industry-recognised award.
The Associate and Chartered awards set clear standards that will become the baseline expectations for clients. These awards contribute to building and maintaining the quality and reputation of Mott MacDonald’s consultancy practice and signify a genuine investment in our colleagues, our clients, and our communities.
If you are thinking of starting your journey to Associate or full Chartership – go for it!