Staffordshire firms urged to let employees gain new university qualifications

STAFFORDSHIRE Chambers of Commerce has teamed up with Staffordshire University to help their employees study for university accredited qualifications.

The studies will take place alongside their day jobs and the courses cover a wealth of business management skills.

The agreement sees university lecturers teaching sessions at the chamber’s Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent offices. They will guide participants through fully accredited university diplomas and advanced university diplomas in project management, leadership management and sales.

The courses, which involve some self-directed work as well as lectures, will culminate in a cap and gown ceremony.

The official launch of Staffordshire Chambers’ Higher Academy takes place at a breakfast event on Thursday September 10 at the Festival Park offices.

Firms interested in the scheme have been urged to attend.

Courses are run over a series of workshops and are equivalent to 60 university credits.

Linda McQuade, Head of Enterprise for Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “This is a great opportunity for people to gain higher level qualifications while they are working. They will experience high quality university lectures and workshops to guide them through their qualification.”

Rob McKay, Head of Corporate Programmes at Staffordshire University’s Faculty of Business, Education and Law, added: “The Business School holds the development of the local business community as a high priority, and we’re delighted to be able to work with the chamber to make our flexible short development programmes even more accessible to people working in local SMEs. Our programmes have been proven to deliver real results in businesses, and we’re excited at the prospect of seeing this make a positive impact for even more businesses.”

The courses cover:
•                Level 5 Leadership and Management (approved by the Institute of Leadership and Management) – This diploma is run over seven workshops with some self-study. It focuses on leadership, leading change, human resource management and managing in context.
•                Level 5 – Professional Selling – Run over eight workshops with a one day induction and four half-day tutorials, this diploma covers a number of topics including key account management and effective business negotiation.
•                Level 6 – Project Management – Covering how to make a business case, risk management and implementation, this diploma is run over nine workshops with some reading and self-study.

For more information about Staffordshire Chambers’ Higher Academy contact Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce Training Department on 01782 202222 or email training@staffordshirechambers.co.uk