Case study: Training and Development - Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board

Funded by the Learning and Skills Council and the EU, and managed by the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board, this is a management training course for female staff in the Northwest tourism industry. The course consists of 8 off-site learning days over an 8 month period, together with a minimum of 5 hours one-to-one mentoring.

The learning leads to the Institute of Leadership and Management’s Introductory Certificate in First Line Management, a certified modular programme which will provide the knowledge and skills necessary to effective operational management in the modern tourism, hospitality, travel and leisure industry Topics include problem solving skills, using information for decision making, giving and receiving feedback, and motivating and building a team.

The course is aimed at women who either currently or in the near future manage staff and who work in small companies (employing less than 250 people and with an annual turnover of less than £34 million), who would not otherwise have an opportunity for this type of training.

There have been 101 learners on the course in 4 locations across Lancashire. These have been supported by 96 mentors, some of whom have worked with 2 learners. The Cheshire and Cumbria courses have been completed and learners are awaiting their results. The courses in Manchester and Lancashire will be completed in November 2007.

The course has been well publicised in newspapers throughout the region. There have also been editorials in many other publications such as the Lancashire Economic Partnership Newsletter, Caterer and Hotelkeeper, and other tourism related publications. This has all generated a lot of interest and enquiries about the course, even from tourism related companies that have not previously taken part in training opportunities.

An independent evaluation is underway and will be available in early 2008.