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15 February 2022

Edinburgh College supports Lothian managers of the future

Staff from Edinburgh’s largest transport provider have benefited from management training from Edinburgh College.

Managers and colleagues from the city’s Lothian Buses have undertaken various levels of management training including diploma and masters level courses accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and SCQF levels 6 and 9 Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) courses.

All training has been geared towards supporting delegates to build on their leadership skills to become more effective managers across the organisation. This is critical to the organisation as they start to emerge from the pandemic and strategically plan for the future.

During 2020/2021, 12 managers from Lothian completed a CMI Level 11 Extended Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership. The course, which is designed for middle managers and those aspiring to become senior management, develops leadership skills and provides up-to-date knowledge and understanding on a range of topics including: strategic planning, financial management, organisational strategy and performance, managing stakeholders, and project and performance management.

The cohort completed the course earlier in 2021 and since then a number of delegates have gone on to secure new, senior roles within Lothian, utilising the knowledge gained during their CMI training to enhance their career.

Seminars and workshops were delivered by Edinburgh College lecturers, both online and on-site at Lothian Buses premises at Longstone and Annandale Street.

In addition, a further 48 Lothian Buses supervisors and managers have completed or are undertaking the ILM qualification, designed to prepare junior and middle managers for the responsibilities of middle and senior management positions.

The training was delivered through the Flexible Workforce Development Fund which offers organisations funding towards the upskilling and reskilling of their staff through professional training at their local college.

Organisations with an annual payroll bill of £3m+ or who pay the apprenticeship levy can access up to £15k of training, while small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can tap into £5k worth of training.

“We are committed to investing in the future of our business with the continued training and development of our colleagues. “We are passionate about harnessing the talent of our future leaders and thank Edinburgh College for providing the funding and expertise for these courses. Lothian is a great place to work and we strive to encourage our colleagues to keep progressing further throughout their careers.”
Tracey Bork, People Director at Lothian
“I was lucky enough to complete the CIM level 7 qualification and found that the course provided me with the tools to reflect and improve my own leadership style. Since completing the course, I feel more confident in my role and empowered to manage my team more effectively.”
Sarah Chambers, Finance Manager at Lothian
“Throughout the level 3 ILM course, I gained a wealth of knowledge regarding leadership and management, as well as a wider knowledge of other areas of the business from my colleagues on the course too. I’m thankful for the opportunity to learn more about becoming a better leader for my colleagues and for the business.”
Grant Rutherford, Duty Manager at Lothian
"It has been fantastic working with Lothian Buses to deliver management training to a large group of talented individuals from across the organisation. We are pleased to receive such wonderful feedback from those who have undertaken training and are delighted to see the courses having a positive impact in terms of performance and career development. Congratulations to everyone involved. We look forward to continuing to work with Lothian, who are an important employer in the heart of our region.”
Carole Paterson, Head of School for Commercial and Professional Development at Edinburgh College