Learning

Summary

Work has involved the analysis of learning needs at both strategic and project level. We have helped design and obtain funding for a wide variety of learning and training activities and facilities, as well as the design and development of specific learning programmes and materials. We have also delivered a variety of learning programmes. These learning activities have employed a wide variety of media, but have made increasing use of online approaches.

Over the years, we have also helped many projects and organisations with simplified guides to their strategies and delivery plans, with newsletters and other forms of publicity material.

Some highlights

New Performance Framework: lean thinking

We assisted the NAC Group plc with the design, development and testing of a suite of courses on aspects of lean thinking. These are intended to contribute towards the lean thinking component of the New Performance Framework for public sector organisations – specifically local government and the health service.

The initial product was a three day workshop, providing a Lean Foundation, and linked to a BTEC Certificate. We designed and developed a session plan, tutor guide and learner’s workbook. The workshop was then delivered at sites across England.

train&sustain

We were commissioned by the HCA to design and develop a sustainable communities resource for trainers. This comprised a guide, workshop presentation, trainer manual and supporting resources all housed on a single USB memory stick.

We worked with our long-term partners at Gainford Design Associates LLP to deliver the product. train&sustain has been used in a variety of seminars and workshops, having been piloted through a number of organisations across England.

We subsequently undertook a major overhaul of train&sustain so that it could be made available online. Innovation 4 Enterprise were responsible for the technical aspects of the project.

Bridging the sustainable communities knowledge gap

We were commissioned by the Academy for Sustainable Communities (now the skills section of the Homes & Communities Agency) to design and develop a resource pack for use in raising the awareness of training providers and training/business brokers on the sustainable communities agenda. We worked with Gainford Design Associates LLP, and in collaboration with Regional Centres of Excellence in the East of England (Inspire East), North East (Ignite) and West Midlands (RegenWM). The commission involved the delivery and evaluation of pilot presentations in each of the regions.

The resource pack was published under the title of “In a nutshell… Understanding sustainable communities”, and over 5,500 copies were distributed across England.

In a nutshell - Resource pack cover   In a nutshell - Resource pack page 2   In a nutshell - Resource pack page 3

Examples of work undertaken

  • Design and development of materials to support delivery of the BTEC Level 2 Certificate in Lean Organisation Management Techniques
  • Design and development of materials to support delivery of the NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Sustainable Development
  • Development of a set of case studies illustrating effective partnership working in the North East’s Local Authorities and Fire & Rescue Services (with ESRA Solutions)
  • Drafting news stories, case studies and other text for a leading training, consultancy and outsourcing company’s website
  • On a national working group of the Construction Industry Council, developing Occupational Standards and new qualifications for people working in Planning, Conservation and Building Control
  • Design, development and implementation of learning programmes on sustainable communities, including live and online workshops across England; development of student and tutor guidance
  • Design and development of a ‘train the trainer’ package on sustainable communities
  • Work with, and for, the Regional Centres of Excellence in Sustainable Communities on awareness-raising and skills development
  • Design and development of courses on lean systems thinking, aimed at staff in local government and the health sector
  • Contributing to the development of national occupational standards for the built environment professions, and new qualifications for planners and transport planners
  • Design and development of guidance manuals to train staff in the effective delivery of work-based training
  • Design and authoring of over 75 paper-based and online learning programmes on aspects of personal and company productivity, including the application of business improvement tools and techniques
  • Authoring of guides to e-business for SME managers
  • Design and development of paper-based and online training in ICT and e-commerce for business intermediaries and SME staff, including partners in Portugal, Greece, Sweden, Finland and Germany
  • Design and development of a project preparation manual for use by staff managing environmental programmes in central and eastern Europe – published by the OECD – with practical application in Bulgaria
  • Production of guides on making the business case, project management and carrying-out evaluation – and delivery of training, to raise the capacity of local partnerships
  • Design and development of training programmes and work-simulation exercises aimed at new recruits to the automotive sector
  • Design and development of training programmes on using labour market intelligence
  • Design and development of productivity and enterprise learning materials for Key Stage 4 students
  • An environmental manual for the managers of small businesses
  • Case studies of best practice in sustainable communities and the skills required for their development
  • Research into best practice in training to achieve productivity improvements
  • Publications and conferences on best practice in vocational training to support economic restructuring, including work in Italy and the USA
  • Workshops on best practice in skills development for the automotive sector, including German partners