IN THE SPOTLIGHT: APPRENTICESHIPS & SKILLS


Della Judd


ANTICIPATING THE NEEDS OF EMPLOYERS


THE IMPORTANCE OF MIDDLE MANAGERS


An inspirational leader who has coached and mentored hundreds of people in the last 20 years in senior roles is urging firms to realise the importance of middle managers. Della Judd is a motivational


executive coach and culture change consultant, delivering culture change programmes and leadership development programmes to businesses. Della is concerned that


investment in middle managers, supervisors and team leaders can be overlooked. She said: “Often we overlook the


middle management layer when it comes to skills training, limiting their exposure to one day ‘supervisory’ courses or ‘how to delegate’ training days. Consider creating a longer-term management development programme that covers a variety of different subjects such as communication, how to articulate strategy and vision to teams and how to recruit people properly.”


Visit: www.dellajudd.co.uk


Employers are at the forefront of the development of apprenticeships at the University of Northampton. The university works with employers to ensure that


the most suitable apprenticeship standards are selected and that training and skills are offered to meet the needs of both the employer and the employee (the apprentice). The University of Northampton was one of four


universities to launch the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) in 2018. Its PCDA is offered in partnership with Northamptonshire Police and it represents the new route into Policing. All the students are employed by Northamptonshire Police as Police Constables and they undertake a three-year training programme, offering a real mix of police work with on-going academic study and developmental reflection. The university also works with local NHS trusts and


St Andrews Healthcare to offer its Nursing Associate apprenticeship programme which is a mixture of taught academic time, placement time, and working within the place of employment learning from work. Simon Longhurst, university apprenticeship manager, said: “At the University of Northampton, we have carefully designed our apprenticeship programmes in collaboration with employers to help them not only attract new talent but to also develop their existing workforce thus enabling them to improve overall performance and productivity of the business. We also assist employers with how to put their Apprenticeship Levy funds to the best use possible.”


Simon Longhurst


Visit: apprenticeships.northampton.ac.uk Email: apprenticeships@northampton.ac.uk


WHAT SKILLS DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED?


As businesses develop and technology marches on keeping up with the skills needed to be competitive has become inevitable. The Skills Gap is real, but how do businesses know what skills they need to future proof? LinkedIn Workplace Learning


Report 2019 found cloud computing skills were the number one needed skill, with people management fourth. The soft skills needed were creativity followed by


persuasion, analytical reasoning, collaboration and adaptability. SSW programme manager Paul


Riddick, of TCHC which offers practical business and workforce development solutions, said: “The skills needs of businesses vary, so how do you determine what you need to best utilise your training budgets? Surveying your staff is one route or undertaking a training needs analysis. You can stretch your training budget with


30 inbusiness FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020


government-funded programmes such as Skills Support for the Workforce, a partnership of training experts who can offer free training in areas such as leadership and teamwork. “It can also support soft skills


development like persuasion and collaboration. Apprenticeships can also be an effective way to develop staff – with SMEs only paying five per cent of the cost of training. “Convincing your staff to learn


new skills can be difficult; up to 63% stated the biggest barrier to learning was time. “Communicating the value to


them is paramount. For businesses it means greater competitiveness and productivity and 94% of employees state they would stay longer at a company who invest in their development.”


Visit: www.tchc.net Call: 01923 698484


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