UK flexible business space provider, Bizspace, is due to launch a specially devised senior management training programme, which has been accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM).
The Bizspace Leadership Progression Programme (BLPP) is designed like a ‘mini MBA’, to encourage managers to develop their skills in areas including brand and business strategy, driving strategic change, financial management, plus marketing and communications. It will also provide a platform for anyone wishing to develop their learning in the future with an academic qualification, such as an MBA.
The unique training programme will launch this summer and be delivered in workshops over two years. It complements Bizspace’s two-year coaching and development programme for its regional management team, which began in October. Both were developed with Advantage Business Partnerships (ABP), who will deliver the training.
Mike O’Dwyer, growth partner and director at ABP, says the course is the first of its kind he has worked on.
“It is unusual for a business to go to such lengths to develop a bespoke course and take the time and trouble to get it accredited,” he said. “This approach follows the whole philosophy of Bizspace. You often hear companies claiming that ‘our most important asset is our people’ and ‘we live by our values’, but with Bizspace this genuinely is the case and I have witnessed both first hand.
“They are one of the only companies I’ve had the pleasure of working with that actually live by their values and put their staff at the heart of the business.”
Bizspace’s core values are Professionalism, Fun, Teamwork, Honesty and Passion. They were developed in conjunction with staff and are embodied throughout all business activities.
Sales and marketing director at Bizspace, Emma Long, explained the thinking behind the programmes.
“Our aim with these courses is to give our managers the confidence to be the best they can be,” she said. “We are already seeing fantastic results after the first two workshops for our regional managers and the feedback from staff has been great. The workshops focus on highly practical examples, so learning can be transferred directly from the ‘classroom’ to the workplace.”
Emma said the need to get the BLPP accredited was a key requirement.
“It took a lot of extra work and research but it was vital that the course culminated in a valuable and transferable qualification. We’re very grateful for the hard work put in by ABP and we’re really looking forward to beginning the BLPP.”
A range of trainers have been selected to deliver each workshop, dependant on their skills and experience. As the course is accredited, trainers can be inspected at any time.