How engineers become managers: the experience of the NCB

One of the strengths of the coal industry is that a large proportion of its managers are engineers. This paper describes the way in which the National Coal Board has met the challenge of grafting management skills onto engineers. Young graduates attend a well-established training scheme for up to two years and within five years of completing this they may attend management courses at various levels. The NCB Staff College is a focal point for the development of managers within the NCB and aims to help engineers develop management skills at the same time as they gain experience `on the job¿¿.