careers


His job title is head of Learning and Development which encompasses three core responsibilities: looking after the CIPD learning arm; supporting the senior CIPD team as it develops its vision and strategy particularly in learning and development; and a smaller – but important role – is to ensure that, as he puts it, “we provide brilliant training opportunities for CIPD staff”.


In his career Lancaster has enjoyed a variety of roles in academia, the third sector and in commercial organisations. At the CIPD he is able to combine much of the experience he has acquired. Peter Cheese has been CEO of CIPD since May 2012 and one of the passions which he has brought to the professional body has been to increase the learning and development (L&D) engagement. A manifestation of this is the commitment to engaging with professionals through providing innovative services and products. Immediately before joining the CIPD, where he is a longstanding fellow, Lancaster worked for the Hanover Housing Group. It is an association which provides housing for older people with a range of needs, from those who can live largely independently to those who have specific care requirements as a result of dementia.


When he joined there was little in the way of L&D for staff but within five years the function had been transformed and Hanover was recognised through winning several awards. The success attracted attention and Lancaster became a familiar face at conferences and the profile brought him to the attention of his professional body. Digital learning, technology and increasing


engagement have been cornerstones of the work he has done over the years and that goes back to his degree in education and design at Brunel University west of London. He qualified as a design teacher which was followed by a master’s, also at Brunel, in instructional design (ID). After a probationary year teaching he went back to Brunel becoming one of the youngest lecturers at the university specialising


32


A job like mine A


ndy Lancaster is still a relative new boy at the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD). But even so he seems well ensconced.


Every month Peter Williams talks to someone carving out a career in e-learning. This month he talks to CIPD’s Andy Lancaster


of their career and caters for those who do perform increasingly diverse roles within the world of HR. Lancaster says that the innovation can be seen in developments such as new learning and development qualifications which include contemporary and digital themes which are due to be launched in January 2015. Such diversity requires clear thinking about


how to engage with both CIPD members and non- members which will increasingly use technology- based methods.


Lancaster: we provide brilliant training opportunities


in Computer Aided Design (CAD). Brunel spotted that it was youngsters like Lancaster who were at home working with, using and teaching technology. Leaving the academic world he went to work for the giant US software corporation Autodesk – a significant producer of CAD – where he designed training systems. This included creating the innovative City & Guilds qualifications in CAD. These days Lancaster spends more time developing innovative training rather than delivering it. CIPD is a significant provider of training in its own right; ranging from short courses and bespoke in-house training through to full qualifications across a range of training topics. The constant challenge, says Lancaster, is to provide relevant, up to date professional development for the core skills CIPD members and others require. CIPD is an awarding body with formal


qualifications delivered by CIPD and a network of approved centres. Level 3 and level 5 qualifications are delivered to thousands annually. At the same time it should be remembered that CIPD is a charity with a mission that is more than just a commercial remit. Fulfilling that mission is a tall order: CIPD is a broad church and has probably become more diverse recently, partly due to the rise of technology- based learning. It deals with members at all stages


Members are under increasing pressure to produce business-aligned HR strategies and one response CIPD has made to the pressure is to launch a Leaders in Learning network, open to members and non-members and free to attend for those in a learning leadership role. The idea is to share best practice and openly discuss ideas such as how to use learning technology. And to help encourage engagement, the network will soon meet in regional centres. It is part of a scheme which aims to see Lancaster and CIPD at the leading edge of L&D and digital learning innovation.


The low-down


n Lancaster says it is a fantastic time to be in L&D as business practices change so quickly L&D has the opportunity to innovate


n The L&D profession has not consistently been strong at business alignment but with new tools, techniques and technologies professional development can enhance learning relevance.


n Lancaster has always been motivated by helping people to develop and that core value has been a driver at all stages of his career.


n He wants to work in blending learning theory and innovation which will benefit the wider L&D and HR profession.


e.learning age september 2014


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