Leadership and management training company In Professional Development has been selected as a core delivery partner for a new £30m skills project in the north west.
The Cheshire and Warrington Accelerate programme aims to help companies and their employees improve their skills and take advantage of the latest business practices.
INPD has been appointed to deliver a range of courses as part of the programme, which is backed by the European Social Fund and is being run in partnership with the University of Chester. Accelerate will run until November 2022.
Up to 100 per cent of funding is available for employees who either live in Cheshire and Warrington or work for a company there.
INPD will be the sole provider of a directors’ development programme, an executive Mini MBA, and courses in advanced management, senior leadership, coaching and mentoring.
They will run for between three and five days, and four of the programmes will lead to qualifications from the Chartered Management Institute.
INPD, which is based in Wigan, will initially deliver the courses virtually, with face-to-face learning due to resume next year. They will be run as open courses and on a bespoke in-house basis upon request.
Each includes a requirement for course work to be completed as part of the syllabus.
Two of the programmes being delivered by INPD are accredited by the University of Chester. The company has worked with the university for several years to deliver a range of executive education programmes to industry.
INPD director Stuart Thompson said: “The Cheshire and Warrington Accelerate programme provides an amazing opportunity for the business community, and we are thrilled to be playing our part as a core delivery partner.
“We are also proud to be a long-standing strategic partner of the University of Chester and to be collaborating on this fantastic initiative.”
Dave Hall, also a director at INPD, said: “To be part of the team selected to provide funded skills and training provision for learners through the Accelerate programme is a real boost and testament to the strength of our offering.
“Having worked with the University of Chester for a number of years to deliver new and highly-impactful executive education programmes to industry, this is another great opportunity to collectively engage the local business community in our learning provision and to help up skill professionals in the area.
“We look forward to welcoming learners on to our programmes and continuing our successful partnership with the university.”
Maud Duthie-van der Venne, the Accelerate project lead for the University of Chester, said: “From the outset, it has been a top priority to ensure that the providers we choose can ensure high-quality training, and that the trainers have the experience and passion to help businesses and individuals to re-skill and up skill.
“In Professional Development fits the bill perfectly. Together, we hope we are able to up skill employed individuals who live and work in the Cheshire and Warrington area to equip them with the necessary expertise for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Richard Colley, of the Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub, which is administering the Accelerate programme, said: “It’s a great opportunity for businesses and employees to become more resilient and competitive after a challenging year.
“We want to help businesses go into 2021 feeling more prepared than ever before.”
