Colleges team up for free leadership course programme

Organisers say the 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.

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 West Midlands and Warwickshire(SWMW) 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 SWMW 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.”

A suite of six courses is available, free of charge, on the Skills West Midlands and Warwickshire website.