Colleges and training providers across the West Midlands and Warwickshire have launched a suite of free, online, modular courses to help tackle the region’s leadership and management challenge.
A suite of six courses is available, free of charge, on the Skills West Midlands and Warwickshire website: https://skillswmw.com/leadership-management-courses/
Leadership and management was highlighted as a key issue for region in West Midlands and Warwickshire Local Skills Improvement Plan published in 2023. The report called for an increase in the fundamental leadership and management capabilities within West Midlands and Warwickshire businesses through the provision of flexible, modular, stackable training and business support for current and future leaders and managers.
It forms one of the cross-cutting themes, along with digital and green adoption, that Skills WM+W was established to address. The one stop shop for employers was launched last year with a focus on the priority growth sectors of construction, engineering and manufacturing, digital and ICT and logistics and distribution.
Commenting on the launch, Suzie Branch-Haddow, Chair of Skills WM +W and Vice Principal at Birmingham Metropolitan College (BMet) said:
“We have seen the emphasis given to the need to enhance skills and training opportunities by both Government and the West Midlands Mayor with a view to delivering economic growth.
“These free, online, modular courses begin to address what employers told us represents one of their biggest barriers to growth and opportunity – leadership and management, including strategy development, performance management, project management and change management. We hope business leaders and managers will enjoy using these courses whenever and wherever it suits them.”
The Skills WM+W courses are designed to develop essential leadership and management skills, covering strategic planning, effective communication, people management, change management and problem-solving, equipping business leaders and managers with the knowledge and tools to navigate organisational challenges and drive success.
The six courses are:
Leadership Analysis – bite-sized sections to review theories around effective leadership including the skills and knowledge required to be an outstanding leader. Delegates will conduct a detailed self-analysis, and then create plans for future growth and development as a leader.
Strategy and Planning – through a series of steps, leaders define the organisation’s vision, mission, and values. They take stock of their current situation both internally and in the market, to identify opportunities and threats. Finally, they craft a plan to achieve their objectives.
Effective Communication and People Management – the course is designed to equip delegates with the essential skills to become a more effective leader. By honing communication and people management abilities, they will be better positioned to apply the concepts learned, gaining practical tools and strategies to become a more confident and effective leader.
Principles of Effective Management – exploring the fundamental functions of management, along with essential practices that foster productivity, team spirit, and goal achievement. Whether a seasoned leader or an aspiring manager, this exploration will equip delegates with the knowledge and tools to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of effective management.
Change Management – this course will help delegates increase the chances of successful change adoption by employees, focusing on people and behaviours – preparing them for the change and supporting them throughout the process – resulting in reduced resistance, smoother transitions and achieving the desired outcomes of the change.
Problem Solving and Decision Making – this course will help with problem-solving – identifying and resolving a specific issue with critical thinking and creativity to find a solution that eliminates or reduces the problem’s negative impact – and decision-making – choosing the best course of action from available options.
