University to launch free, higher level skills programme

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University to launch free, higher level skills programme

6 Jul 2011 08:52:38

The University of Bedfordshire’s Knowledge Hub has recently been awarded funding to deliver a ‘Higher Level Skills for Growth’ programme.

The free programme of personal development and business training is for employees in key sectors of the Bedfordshire economy and will provide a series of short, bite-sized, training workshops coupled with masterclasses to develop the necessary skills to support innovation in business.

Funding for the programme has come from Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough Councils and the European Social Fund.

The programme will focus on Innovation, Business Growth, Business Change and Improvement and includes:

  • What is innovation
  • Social networking for business
  • Agile management
  • Project and Change Management
  • Raising investment

Employees must live in Bedfordshire and be engaged in employment by small and medium sized companies (of up to 249 employees), or be working in public, not-for profit or voluntary sector organisations (some eligibility criteria applies).

The course will take place in the evenings and last 12 weeks starting in January 2012. The key academic partner in this new Knowledge Hub project is the University’s Business School’s Centre for Leadership Innovation which will provide the academic input and delivery in collaboration with its other partners.

Rita Mascia, Business Development Manager in the Knowledge Hub, said: “Skills development has long been recognised as one of the five drivers of productivity alongside and linked with competition, entrepreneurship, innovation and investment. This project will provide higher level skills to managers in Bedfordshire whose companies are ready to grow and innovate.”

Professor Stephen J. Perkins, Director of the University's Business and Management Research Institute and Co-Director of the Centre for Leadership Innovation (CLI) said: “This is an excellent opportunity to add value to individuals and their organisations consistent with the CLI mission, one strand of which is to develop effective leaders ready to meet the demands of 21st century organisations.

“We're delighted to be working in close partnership with colleagues in the Knowledge Hub to deliver this top quality transformational leadership programme.”

If you are interested in finding out more email knowledge@beds.ac.uk or call 0800 328 5334

Bedfordshire University

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