Members of the Foresight Centre team are among the first on Merseyside to have completed a bespoke training programme (ILM Talent Programme) providing them with a recognised management qualification through the Institute of Leadership Management (ILM).
The ILM Introductory Certificate in First Line Management is a certificated, modular programme providing the comprehensive knowledge and skills necessary for effective operational management in today's demanding customer focused industries. Topics included problem-solving skills, using information for decision-making, giving and receiving feedback, motivating and building a team.
The qualification included off-site learning days over seven months, one-to-one mentoring training and a work based project with individual support provided throughout the qualification from industry mentors.
Support towards the cost of the programme was made available through the Mersey Partnerships' Objective One and Northwest Development Agency funding, however, members of the Foresight Centre team were awarded their places free of charge due to their consistent success in the Business Excellence category of the Merseyside Tourism Awards over many years.
Janet Wilson, member of the first cohort, commented,
“The ILM course was inspiring training, and enabled me to see situations from many points of view, helped me to understand how circumstances can arise, suggested methods to tackle situations in order to resolve problems whilst developing staff and the business”.
Lynn Westbury, Head of Foresight, who was also involved in the programme as a mentor, said that the programme had enhanced the development of staff taking part by increasing their confidence in dealing with operational and customer focused issues and providing them with the skills to adapt their management style to suit the circumstances.
