National Express Group has become the latest major employer to take part in a specialist leadership and management service developed in the West Midlands to instil confidence in employees and provide training opportunities to improve skills.
The leading international public transport group has worked with the Business and Learning Connections Project (located at Aston University and funded by Advantage West Midlands) to produce a DVD which shows the benefits to businesses of enabling the up-skilling of their existing workforce.
The video highlights National Express staff who have been encouraged to take up training and development opportunities through a leadership skills programme which has given them confidence in their abilities. Employees featured include drivers, mechanics and administrators who have gone on to become team leaders and line managers.
Business and Learning Connections uses multi-media techniques to produce video and audio material to capture business expertise for learning purposes and to use its links with business to promote skills initiatives.
This activity supports the wider goals of the regional leadership and management programme, created and led by Advantage West Midlands and delivered through Business Link West Midlands.
Richard Bowker, Chief Executive of National Express Group, said: “We have seen a huge change in people’s confidence and motivation because of this programme. We have been able to equip our managers with a growing range of leadership skills helping to take the business forward.
“The DVD is a perfect way to illustrate some real life examples of how we are continuing to develop and grow our business through our people. I hope it inspires other companies to get involved.”
Pat Jackson, Director of Skills at Advantage West Midlands, said: "We need to work harder than ever to ensure our regional workforce is skilled in the face of rising competition, both nationally and globally.
“Businesses that continue to invest in new products and services and in the skills of their people will be more able to withstand the enormous challenges of the current economic climate. They will be ready for the upturn.
“I’m pleased to say there are encouraging signs of progress in the West Midlands with greater numbers of our firms committed to the training and development of their staff.
“The DVD shows the real business advantages of leadership and management training for senior business executives looking to expand and grow their own companies.
“The case study provided by National Express provides another crucial real world example and perspective to help reinforce the benefits to companies of investing more and more in the development of their most valuable assets – their employees.”
“The programme has a crucial role to play in increasing skills levels in the region. It’s vital we encourage more employers to grow their businesses by boosting the skills of their managers.”
Joe McConnell, Business and Learning Connections Project Manager, said: “Businesses across the West Midlands have continued to engage positively with the project. Skills challenges and encouraging the development of talent have been the common factor which runs through the video and multi-media products.”
The leadership and management service begins when an independent, specialist business advisor visits the firm and spends time in-house, interviewing staff and managers, to ascertain where improvements can be made.
The advisor then recommends an appropriate course of action, which is measured over a period of time to gauge performance.
Advice varies according to the firm and industry, but examples have included confidential staff surveys, managers undertaking specialist training or staff members visiting other firms to witness best practice.
The success of the pilot service has led to it being rolled out as part of a wider portfolio of services across the region and run by Business Link West Midlands.
For further information visit call the Leadership and Management contact centre on 0845 113 1234.