Winning the ‘arms race’ for employment with project management training

Returning to civilian life is a daunting experience, and securing new employment is the most stressful element. In the current economic climate it is more important than ever to make yourself an attractive proposition to the widest possible range of potential employers. Quanta’s project management courses can help you do this.

Successful projects are the lifeblood of any business. From engineering and construction through to IT and finance, projects help deliver change and innovation within a company. Even in the current economic environment, businesses are looking for employees who can deliver projects that will give them a competitive edge.

As a Service leaver you have many of the qualities needed to deliver successful projects: drive, resilience and integrity … but you may be missing that one essential quality without which you may not even get an interview: an accredited project management qualification to back up your extensive military experience.

This is where Quanta can help. We offer a wide range of project management courses that can get your application to the top of the pile and maximise your chances of landing the job you deserve. As an Approved Learning Provider (No. 1201) for the ELC scheme, we train hundreds of Service leavers just like you every year, in courses such as:

PRINCE2®
APMP
Microsoft Project
MSP®
M_o_R®
Agile DSDM
Principles of Change Management, and
ITIL®

Most importantly, we are able to tailor a course bundle to your specific needs and career aspirations, combining courses such as PRINCE2® Practitioner and APMP into a single ELCAS claim, which can save you time and money.

If the thought of an exciting career in project management interests you, then why not give Olly or Amy a call on 0800 018 9561, visit quanta.co.uk/elc or email mod@quanta.co.uk.

See the advertisement on page 34

An outstanding career opportunity for Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers leaving the Armed Forces

As an officer leaving the Armed Forces, you will have a wealth of skills and experience that can help you build a successful new career in civilian life. However, making the right career choice needs careful consideration.

Leadership, discipline and the ability to get things done are common traits shared by both successful military officers and entrepreneurs. If you’re looking for a new challenge and enjoy working with a variety of different people, then the opportunity to build your own wealth management business could be just what you are looking for.

St James’s Place Wealth Management is a leading FTSE 250 company with over £28 billion funds under management. They offer a comprehensive range of services to individuals and businesses that are provided through their highly experienced advisers.

Through the St James’s Place Academy, they are now seeking applications from self-motivated people who have set their sights on making a career change by setting up their own wealth management practice with St James’s Place.

For all Academy applicants, the opportunity to take control of their future is a key aspiration. At St James’s Place, you will receive unrivalled support, have the freedom to grow your business and achieve the lifestyle that you aspire to for you and your family.

This opportunity is not for everyone, only the very best will be selected from a rigorous recruitment process. Take your first step towards making a successful and rewarding career change by visiting www.sjpacademy.co.uk.

See the advertisement on page 74

Bristol Executive Management Programme and others: new resettlement courses for 2012

Bristol Management Centre (BMC), one of the leading providers of management courses for resettlement (ELC and CTP approved provider), is introducing a number of new courses in 2012 that are specially designed to give Service leavers the best possible chance of employment and promotion in the non-military world.

First out of the blocks is the three-week MBA level (level 7) Bristol Executive Management Programme (BEMP), successor to the hugely popular Business Management Appreciation Course (BMAC) but with a difference! BEMP not only covers the ground needed for a firm foundation in management in civvy street, but also provides an additional (non-examined) Elective in one of a number of Office of Government Commerce topics, such as PRINCE2®, Managing Successful Programmes (MSP®), etc. The course, including Elective, is accredited at MBA level (level 7) and you can also take the Elective OGC examination if you wish – at a modest additional cost. BEMP offers outstanding value for money, being up to £700 cheaper than similar courses offered elsewhere.

The Elective (even with the examination) represents a £300 discount against the BMC standard price.

For anyone already holding PRINCE2® Practitioner, APMP for PRINCE2® Practitioners is a must! This allows you to gain the APMP qualification in three days (subject to passing the APMP for PR2 exam).

Finally, BMC will be running P3O (Portfolio, Programme and Project Offices (another BEMP Elective) throughout 2012. This strategic-level course provides the framework for managing and coordinating at the highest level, the most complex one-off undertakings. It is aimed both at people who will be carrying out the work and the top-level executives who oversee them.

BMC has been providing resettlement courses for the military for almost 40 years and offers a personal service that is second to none. See for yourself by phoning Jo at BMC on 0117 949 1500 or emailing training@bmc.ac.uk, or visit www.bmc.ac.uk

Let WATA help you find your way ahead

West Anglia Training Association Ltd (WATA) has established itself as one of the leading training providers in the UK with a reputation for the delivery of first-class training courses, and where customer care and efficient, effective service is a priority. Based in Huntingdon, training is provided in a relaxing rural setting at its impressive training centre. Its portfolio of training is extensive, and includes health, safety and environmental courses, technical skills, quality management, leadership and management.

Choosing a new career path can be difficult, but whatever your choice, WATA will have a course for you. WATA offers NEBOSH Certificate and Diploma courses and many other accredited courses in Health & Safety, including courses in Environmental Management. If technical skills are what you are looking for, then WATA’s portfolio of electrical and mechanical courses will provide this option. Leadership and management courses accredited by the ILM are also provided for those looking to improve their management skills or gain qualifications in this area.

Best of all, WATA courses qualify for ELC funding. Check its web page at www.wata.co.uk to download the latest training programme, or telephone
01480 435544 to find out what WATA can offer you.

See the advertisement on page 7.

Military man crowned Britain’s top-achieving manager

Neale Moss CMgr, a Colonel in the MoD’s Joint Helicopter Command based near Ipswich, has been awarded the top prize in this year’s CMI Chartered Manager of the Year competition. The Chartered Manager of the Year award is presented annually to the manager who can prove use of excellent management and leadership skills and integrity to bring about significant positive change in the organisation they work for. All competition entrants will have previously achieved Chartered Manager of the Year accreditation from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).

Neale, presently based at Wattisham Flying Station, near Ipswich, who is currently Commander of the UK’s Attack Helicopter Force and Wattisham Flying Station, won this year’s competition by demonstrating outstanding leadership skills in a highly stressed and quickly-changing environment, and implementing several new initiatives that have enhanced MoD performance.

At the awards ceremony, which was part of CMI’s annual management and leadership conference, Neale said: ‘I’m thrilled to have won this accolade. Managing and leading in the military is both challenging and rewarding and it is great to have my achievements, and those of the people I work with, recognised by the CMI. I think it is important that managers confirm their professional status, especially when working alongside other Chartered professions such as accountants and engineers. It affords us a parity that has long been missing.

‘Gaining Chartered Manager status was a valuable learning process and has given me more confidence in my managerial and leadership abilities and helped me to recognise that I have hugely transferable skills that can be used in many other environments. This is personally important to me as, next year, I will be leaving the Army after 36 years. Chartered Manager is a prestigious career-defining scheme, and I am delighted and honoured to have won this award.’

Neale was praised by the judges for the wide range of responsibilities he took on as part of his role and the significant impact he has made in a number of areas. This included setting up a charitable foundation that raised £300,000 and built five schools in three years in Afghanistan, and increasing helicopter operational capacity by 60% in just 12 months.

To become a Chartered Manager, hopefuls undergo vigorous assessment in areas of practice including meeting customer needs and managing change. Research shows that the estimated lifetime economic benefit associated with holding professional qualifications amounts to £81,000 over the course of their career, proving the value of the scheme and others like it. Chartered Manager also enables employers to benchmark the quality of their management teams against nationally accredited standards.

For more information on Chartered Manager accreditations, visit: www.managers.org.uk/cmgr.

So you want a career in facilities management?

Your experience in the Forces will have equipped you with a range of diverse skills that fit neatly with a career in facilities management (FM), and as the official training arm of the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM), we are here to support your transition and provide you with the skills development and knowledge to tackle new challenges throughout.

CTP and ELCAS approved
We are a preferred supplier to the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and our programme includes a number of FM qualifications that are eligible for the MoD’s Enhanced Learning Credit (ELC) scheme.

Why train with us?
We believe that we have an unparalleled range of opportunities for personal and professional development.

Through attending our public courses, you have the opportunity to network with fellow FM professionals to share your experiences and build a network of support, and our highly regarded and long-established programme is delivered by our team of expert trainers, who are both subject specialists and experienced practitioners. In addition, we are uniquely positioned to offer flexibility to your training schedule, and as part of our foundation programme we offer a highly praised site visit to commercial premises to illustrate FM services in action.

Want to know more?
Visit our website, www.bifm-training.com, email us at info@bifm-training.co.uk or just give us a call on 020 7404 4440.

See the advertisement on page 44 www.questonline.co.uk/may11

Flexible, portable management qualifications from Somerset College

Somerset College has been working in partnership with the British Armed Forces since 1998 and in such time has built up an excellent reputation for delivering quality qualifications to a large selection of military personnel both in the UK and abroad. A leading provider of further and higher education, Somerset College supports a significant number of learners. As a training provider to the MoD, it is a preferred supplier to the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) and is also a University of Plymouth college.

BTEC Professional is a highly regarded qualification and is internationally recognised by academic institutions and businesses alike. Our programmes are delivered in an extremely flexible way, which enhances the learning experience and enables a learner to feel empowered, either through distance learning, blended learning or workshops. Our BTEC Professional Management and Leadership Studies programme, which has been specifically designed and tailored to address the requirements of flexibility and portability for serving military and MoD civilian personnel, includes:

BTEC level 7 – Diploma in Strategic Management & Leadership (postgraduate level)
BTEC level 5 – Award, Certificate and Diploma in Management & Leadership (foundation degree level)
BTEC level 3 – Certificate in Management (A-A/S level).

There is a great opportunity for students to progress from level 3 upwards; or, depending on rank and experience, there is an option to start at level 5 or go straight on to the level 7 programme. Students can then continue with academic studies through the MSc in Leadership and Management at Portsmouth University or the MBA at the University of Plymouth.

See the advertisement on page 41.

Published February 2011

Flexible, portable management qualifications from Somerset College

BTEC level 7 – Diploma in Strategic Management & Leadership (postgraduate level)
BTEC level 5 – Award, Certificate and Diploma in Management & Leadership (foundation degree level)
BTEC level 3 – Certificate in Management (A-A/S level).

See the advertisement on page 29.

Published January 2011

‘New year, new career’: become an assessor for National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)

Keeping up to date with developments in the highly competitive global market is not an easy business. Individuals and companies require a blend of quality, experience and responsiveness to go hand in hand with competitive pricing and value for money when sourcing training and education.

North Notts Create Ltd has a huge range of courses to suit all situations. Management and strategic leadership are highly sought-after skills, and a formal qualification enhances the individual’s professional status and increases their career options. Our qualifications provide the ultimate in portability across all industries.

Management development is an area that forward-thinking companies take very seriously. Those that continue to train their staff in a downturn are the ones that will prosper in the long run, according to research, which adds that those that stand to gain the most are those that are ‘savvy and creative’ in their training activities.

All North Notts Create leadership programme tutors are members of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), with considerable commercial experience. It is able to assess your business needs and provide training and consultancy services. It can also provide bespoke courses that lead to recognisable qualifications for current or ex-Forces personnel seeking to translate their skills to a civilian context.

Courses include:

level 3 – CMI First Line in Management
level 5 – CMI Management & Leadership
level 7 – CMI Strategic Management & Leadership.

A range of other specialist training opportunities are also provided, covering areas such as health and safety, logistics and transport, fluid power, environmental health and food technology, aerospace and engineering
For a full list of opportunities and further details contact: Tim Gladman, Employer Engagement Manager, North Notts Create Ltd Tel: 01909 504747 Email: create@nnc.ac.uk Websites: www.nnccreate.co.uk and www.nnc.ac.uk.

See the advertisement on page 47

Published August 2010

‘New year, new career’: become an assessor for National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)

Are you leaving the Services and looking for a second career or part-time employment that capitalises on your managerial skills and the extensive experience gained during your time in the Forces? Keen to take control and to have the freedom to manage your working life? Then why not become a freelance NVQ assessor?

Even in times of economic uncertainty, there is huge demand for high-calibre, well-trained NVQ assessors. So, what do you need to become an effective NVQ assessor?

Successful NVQ assessors possess strong organisational and interpersonal skills, the ability to work unsupervised and are ‘self-starters’. Formal qualifications, while useful, are not essential – it is your Service experience and training that will enable you to meet the standards required to become assessors in leadership and management qualifications.

The Ultimate Performance Business Solutions Ltd (UPBS) NVQ Assessor Course provides the much sought-after A1/A2 Assessor qualification in the shortest of timescales. Delivered by instructors who are ex-military and current NVQ assessors, it offers a comprehensive insight for anyone thinking of self-employment as a freelance NVQ assessor. Uniquely, the course also provides delegates with the opportunity to register on the assessor database of the largest national NVQ provider of assessors. For those seeking a well-paid, flexible and rewarding second career, the UPBS A1/A2 NVQ Assessor Course – which can be paid for using your ELC or resettlement grant – could provide just the opportunity you have been looking for.

For more information, visit our website at www.ultimateperformance.eu/a1 ELCAS Approved Provider Number: 3245

Leading to Excellence

An exciting opportunity to help you to develop a new career! In these difficult economic times, jobs are less plentiful, and competition for those posts that are available is fiercer than ever. While the Forces have an enviable training record, and have prepared generations of Service personnel for a range of careers in terms of skills development, the majority of Service leavers are still commercially naive and require additional support in securing the type and level of posts that are right for them.

Well-trained and experienced personnel are continually joining the job market at the same time as you. This can place you in a position where you feel you can do the job but sometimes fail to convince the interviewer accordingly. While employers will value your proven leadership and management skills, they will also recognise the importance of a formal qualification in these areas – it certainly helps when your application is sitting among many others in an HR department and those on the selection panel do not know you personally. Marr LLP and the University of Worcester Business School (see the advertisement on page 5) are working together to introduce Service leavers to the benefits of having a leadership and management qualification on their CV. Possession of such a qualification signals that ‘you mean business’ and understand it, and will therefore be an asset to any organisation. In addition, more people are showing the confidence to start their own business, and need the support of a highly practical and academically proven course to make their business more successful.

The University of Worcester has developed and delivers an excellent industryrecognised programme that we call Leading to Excellence. It is designed to meet your needs, and brings you up to date with current thinking in key business areas, including marketing, business strategy, finance (for non-financial managers) and, of course, leadership. We would be delighted to hear from you (see contact details below) to find out how we can help you to help yourself! Alternatively, come to our open day on 21 July 2009.

For further details please call Vicki Lancey on 01905 855279 or email v.lancey@worc.ac.uk

Management and Leadership - Despatches

Winning the ‘arms race’ for employment with project management training

An outstanding career opportunity for Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers leaving the Armed Forces

Bristol Executive Management Programme and others: new resettlement courses for 2012

Let WATA help you find your way ahead

Military man crowned Britain’s top-achieving manager

So you want a career in facilities management?

Flexible, portable management qualifications from Somerset College

Flexible, portable management qualifications from Somerset College

‘New year, new career’: become an assessor for National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)

‘New year, new career’: become an assessor for National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)

Leading to Excellence