Leadership Coaching, Team Development & Supply Chain Specialist
Over 15 years of railway and mobility supply chain knowledge in UK, Europe and beyond. Over 35 years’ experience developing Leaders, Teams and People … Thoroughly passionate about grass roots motorsport and is currently building a Land Speed Record-attempting vintage motorcycle … should be fun!
About Robert
Chester Corrie Consulting was formed in 2016 by Robert Hopkin who lives in Buckingham. The company name comes from two of his favourite dogs who both had a disproportionate impact on him before, during and after his 20+ year military career in the Royal Air Force (RAF). Chester was mainly a badly-behaved, but devoted, Golden Retriever – whilst Corrie was a cheeky and charming West Highland Terrier.
On leaving school, Robert pursued a craft apprenticeship as a fitter/turner for a Bedford company (W H Allen & Co Ltd) which manufactured/serviced gas and steam turbines, diesel engines and volute pumps … all great fun and, testament to that classic apprenticeship training, he still uses those hand skills to this day. After a brief flirtation with university life, Robert attended St Paul’s College, Cheltenham in the early 1980s to train as a Maths/PE teacher before starting his teaching career at Magdalen College School in Brackley, Northamptonshire.
Leadership, team and personal development
A committed and passionate teacher, trainer, instructor and business developer with a strong leadership development background, Robert can provide leadership coaching and advice, as well as developing followership competencies within subordinate teams or personnel. Having worked at the Joint Services Command & Staff College and Headquarters Personnel & Training Command (Royal Air Force) in senior staff appointments, Robert works with teams to help them develop high-performing attributes, through facilitating well-respected psychometric instruments (such as Belbin Team Roles and the Strength Deployment Inventory) as well as good old common sense!
Supply chain development
Since leaving the Royal Air Force in 2009, Robert has enjoyed a varied career in the Railway Industry, initially as the Executive Director for the Rail Alliance (an intentionally disruptive start-up in the railway sector trade association landscape). Latterly, during the period 2018-24, Robert was the Head of International Collaboration and SME Engagement for the University of Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education. Robert has a wide knowledge of international railway systems as well as the challenges associated with getting ‘product to market’. Having worked with multiple national and regional railway clusters on the European mainland since 2010, he retains a particular interest in European Railway Clusters Initiative and the opportunities it presents to UK businesses to trade in the EU … and beyond.
