Learning landscape is changing
Dec 28 2008 The Journal
EMBRACING change rather than seeing it as something to be feared is a valuable skill in these changing times and a true leadership quality.
The rapid changes currently taking place in the learning and skills sector are affecting individuals and employers across the North East and altering the learning landscape.
Young people have more choice than ever before in the qualifications they study for and the learning route they take and employers have never had as much help as they do now to ensure their workers have the most up to date skills to enable them to be productive, competitive and successful.
Employers are having to make changes to the way they work as a result of the current economic climate and changes are being introduced to help businesses survive.
Skills secretary John Denham announced a number of measures recently to help small businesses cope with the financial downturn. Some £350m is to be directed to small businesses through further enhancements of the Learning and Skills Council’s (LSC) Train to Gain service. Funding will now be available for bite-sized chunks, or small units of qualifications for the first time, giving small businesses what they need.
Another enhancement will be an extension to the leadership and management programme, funded through the Train to Gain service, to enable more small businesses to benefit – including companies with just five to 10 workers. The programme aims to help companies who are being held back by a lack of leadership to move forward by developing individuals within the organisation.
Northumberland-based Dawn Advice, an independent charity which provides support for people with debt, housing, employment or benefit problems, is one organisation that has used the programme to boost the skills of its workforce in a bid to avoid any worries of its own. As a result of its ongoing success, the organisation has dealt with its fair share of change in recent months including rapid business expansion, the need to fulfil major contracts, an increase in staffing levels and a move to larger business premises.
It was the opportunity to tender for a larger contract to provide telephone advice in four areas of social welfare law throughout England and Wales which first provided the catalyst for change and signposted Dawn Advice towards Train to Gain.
The organisation signed up all of its senior management team for a leadership and management training programme. The government subsidised training, which was delivered by Qa Business Improvement Ltd, took place at Dawn Advice’s own premises in Seaton Burn, Northumberland.
As well as individual development plans and help with leadership and communication skills, the bespoke training programme covered areas relevant to the company’s individual circumstances, such as managing change and writing competitive tenders. The organisation is already reaping the benefits of the additional support.
Liz Chadwick, chief executive, said: “Boosting the skills of our workforce has really helped to take our business to the next level. The leadership and management training has enabled us to stand back and see things more objectively. In particular, we’ve learnt to embrace change rather than see it as something to be feared.
“The rewards speak for themselves. As well as winning a contract with Community Legal Advice, part of the Legal Services Commission, we’ve doubled our service capacity and increased our turnover from £0.5m in 2005 to £2m in 2007.”
Chris Roberts, regional director with the LSC North East, added: “Train to Gain is a complete skills service which is driven by the specific needs of an organisation, whether that be providing staff with basic skill qualifications in literacy and numeracy or helping the people at the top of the organisation develop their leadership skills to enable them to take their company forward.”
For more information on Train to Gain visit www.traintogain.gov.uk
