WHEN their management training centre in a Victorian country house needed refurbishment, a team of directors and their staff decided to "walk the talk", reports Helen Long.

Directors found themselves digging trenches, a chef laid pipes, and management tutors spent time demolishing existing bathrooms.

At times, it seemed that the refurbishment project at Fallbarrow Hall, Bowness, was more of a management development exercise than a building project, said management tutor for the Dove Nest Group, Andy Clifford.

The Dove Nest Group is based at Crosthwaite Mill, but uses Fallbarrow Hall for residential management train-ing courses, including personal and business development and team-building.

It needed to upgrade accommodation in the 1850' s Grade II listed building, to include en-suite bathrooms for its clients.

But while balancing the 'listed building' requirements alongside planning and build-ing control regulations, and enlisting skilled local trades-men to work with them, the Dove Nest directors and their team found they were working on just the sort of challenging project they would give their clients.

"We found we were 'walking the talk' and putting into practice the kind of issues and themes we would be introducing to people who come on our courses," said Mr Clifford.

Present was the Hall's owner, Fenella Watkins, whose great grandfather's brother, John Rawson, built the Hall for his brother, the Rev Arthur Rawson.

Formed in 1982, Dove Nest Group offers business, team and individual development programmes, tailored to suit corporate clients.