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
Bridging the sustainable communities knowledge gap
We were commissioned by the Academy for Sustainable Communities (now the HCA Academy) 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.
You can read more about the Academy’s projects at www.hcaacademy.co.uk.
Productivity and enterprise in schools
We led on the design and development of an innovative pilot project with Framwellgate School Durham. This involved an enterprise and productivity programme for school students working towards Key Stage 4.
The “WOWtoolkit” (World of Work Toolkit) comprises the following:
- Attractive learning materials on a series of productivity and enterprise themes
- Activities designed to stimulate students and meet all preferred learning styles
- A student learning log for recording progress
- Supporting teacher resources, including session plans and suggestions on delivery
It is intended to contribute across the curriculum in terms of personal and social development, citizenship, enterprise and key skills.
This project was sponsored by Learning and Skills Council County Durham and supported by Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. Other schools helped in piloting and refining the toolkit, and the project was steered by experts from the Local Education Authority. The graphics for the project were developed by Gainford Design Associates LLP.
Productivity improvement learning materials
We have designed and developed a wide variety of learning materials on productivity improvement. Some 74 modules have been grouped into 13 courses, delivered in a variety of formats.
Over 50,000 of these modules have been studied to date by the staff of companies including Nissan and JCB. They cover the following topics: standard operations; skill control; ‘5S’ workplace organisation; kaizen; 7 tools; failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA); production-led maintenance (PLM); 7 new tools; JIT kaizen; an introduction to productivity improvement (3 courses at different levels); six sigma.
We have prepared further learning materials on work measurement, statistical process control, poka yoke, value stream mapping, single minute exchange of dies (SMED) and visual management.
For each course we have also developed guidance and assessment materials in a range of formats.
Examples of work undertaken
- 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