Another first for DPG and Swinton Insurance. Last December 2011, we embarked on a joint approach to a CIPD Certificate in Learning and Development Practice Programme. This approach was to run an ”in house” programme for a group of Swinton’s trainers from across their business, using the DPG CIPD approved Certificate programme, with Tracy Roden Training Manager for Swinton as the facilitator. DPG were responsible for the assessment and quality assurance.
Tracy followed the DPG materials and programme structure but was able to then help the group apply their learning specifically to Swinton. Tracy was given a thorough induction to our programme being mentored by an experienced DPG facilitator. Thanks go to Helen Bailey, Belinda Aspinall and the DPG centre team for the support and advice!
The programme completed in November 2012 and all 10 participants successfully completed on time. Well done! A wonderful achievement.
We added an extra half day event to the programme to bring the group back together to review and celebrate their learning. The aim of the session was to ensure that Swinton gained from the commitment and cost; and to decide if the programme should be offered more widely to their training team, plus to celebrate the hard work and commitment given by everyone involved.
The session looked at:
1. Review of the learning journey
2. Wins for Swinton
3. Self-Gains
4. Tips for others embarking on the programme
Review of the Journey
Attached to this blog is a video from the group, explaining their learning journey. Apologies in advance for the quality of the videos, - I think I need to book myself some training!
Swinton’s Wins
During the session the following were stated by the participants as being the key wins from the programme:
- I now know and understand how our training manuals are written, so I can deliver them much better!
- I appreciate the design process behind the training manuals
- I’m now able to challenge when managers request training which I know isn’t needed
- I can now evaluate the worth of training I deliver
- New starts trained professionally
- Well trained staff, better sales, increased profit
- Company reputation
- Employer of choice
- I feel able to challenge assumptions so deliver the right thing to the right people
- I know how to coach to help embed our coaching culture
- Increased retention
- Credibility of team
- Won’t outsource training!
- Helps support the proposed coaching culture Swinton is trying to implement
Personal Gains
- Pride
- Self-belief
- Progression
- LNA skills
- I’ve gained interest in the wider business
- I can see the impact of what I do in the business
- I want to do more training!
- I’ve seen other part of the business and have learnt about these
Top Ten Tips
The group identified the following as the key things they would advise new learners as they embark on the certificate programme:
- Find your own way to approach the work; don’t think you have to do what others are doing.
- Use others , talk and communicate and share between workshops
- Take a breadth , keep an open mind and don’t panic when you feel “ out of your comfort zone”
- Use the assessment guidance when approaching your assessments, don’t ignore it or you won’t meet all the criteria, that’s what it is there for!
- Keep your CPD log up to date as you go along each month, don’t leave it till the end
- Don’t get hung up on the minutes allocated to activities within your participant packs
- When you get feedback, listen to it or read it properly!
- do your assignment and then leave it for a day, go back and read it with fresh eyes
- make the most of CIPD , there are a wealth of resources available from them , attend local network meetings and sessions as well as use their website and resources
- 10. Remember everything you do in the programme CAN be applied to your job!
To sum up
As you can see the programme as a joint venture worked! Swinton have developed a confident skilled team of trainers who are approaching their roles in a new light.
As a result of these great outcomes Swinton have already set the dates for another programme starting in January 13, and we will train another Swinton Trainer to deliver this alongside Tracy.
As for the team – they were last seen heading for the palace hotel to continue their celebrations into the evening!
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