The Electrical Contractors’ Association Management Development Training Programme

Jaluch deliver a successful pilot programme for the ECA

As the government announces a new £150m programme to deliver 50,000 new apprenticeship places, the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) explains the success of the pilot of a recently launched Management Development Training Programme, offering the next step for contractors looking to develop their careers. Delivered in association with HR and training specialists Jaluch, the programme delivers industry-specific management training which will provide the sector with its future managers. The programme, specifically designed for ECA members, provides a blueprint for other industries to ensure that there is a clear career path available within skilled industries and in the future should support the government’s aims to attract high quality candidates to start an apprenticeship and join the profession. A video outlining the programme is available on the Jaluch website at: www.jaluch.co.uk/eca The Pilot Programme The ECA Education and Training Team worked with Jaluch to create a two-stage programme consisting of supervisory and managerial level training modules. The aim was not just to create a training programme, but to provide a clearly delineated career development path for an electrician to follow and learn the skills required as their career progresses. The modular approach allows ECA members to start at the level most appropriate to their experience, so for example a supervisor with years of experience will have this taken into account and start at the managerial level in order to help progress their role to the next level. The supervisory course is made up of four modules which cover the key foundations of the scope and role of a supervisor including planning, delegating and leading a team. Following on from this, the nine module managerial course looks at the skills required as a manager including technical learning in the areas of employment law, absence management and business development. To support the learning process, everyone on the managerial programme starts the course with a psychometric profile which acts as the basis for a bespoke programme to meet their requirements. The course has been designed to include the learning outcomes of the Chartered Institute of Management (CMI) Introductory Certificate in Team Leading (Level 2) and the Introductory Certificate in Management (Level 3). Jaluch provides participative and interactive training, and ensures that as well as meeting these commercial and academic standards, the course modules were practical and engaging, fitting in with the preferred learning styles of individuals more used to working with tools than textbooks. Breaking down the formality of a classroom approach, Jaluch delivered an innovative training solution for learning theories and ideas through practical exercises and games. Iain Macdonald, Head of ECA Education and Training stated: “ECA’s goal was to develop management training tailored specifically for electrical contracting businesses, giving our employers a means to formally prepare their staff for key management and supervisory roles. By partnering with Jaluch, we have been able to exceed this ambition, offering a course with not just the right content, but in a format our candidates tell us they find ideal. The independent mark of quality of the programme is that we have gained CMI accreditation for it, an achievement which I know is in no small part down to the unfailing expertise and commitment brought by Jaluch”. The Future The ECA is delighted with the results of the pilot and aim to roll the programme out across the country – the industry as a whole is keen to take up this opportunity which was previously unavailable to contractors. As well as the ECA offering the courses to their members, some larger electrical contractors are considering running the programme in-house for their employees following the successful results. The qualifications open up new opportunities and a definite career path for contractors, but this is not the only advantage of the course - many delegates highlighted the opportunity to work with individuals from different companies as an additional benefit which supported their personal and career development and understanding. Both the ECA and Jaluch will continue to seek feedback and monitor the progress in the workplace of delegates from the pilot programme to ensure that it continues to be a dynamic and practical training solution which meets the needs of contractors across the UK who are looking for the next step in their career. Feedback from delegates “If I put into practice what we went through it will make my work role easier and perform to a better standard.” “Very good discussions as the class went through situations that had occurred on site which brought home the relevance of the training.” “I believe that following the training it will make me a better supervisor.” “Enjoyed having different people from different companies so we had a broad spectrum of opinions and stories.” “Using games helped us to think about our issues.” “Pitched at a level I was comfortable with.” “Relevant and concise.” “Informative, well presented, easy to understand.” “Enjoyed the fact that the trainers kept everyone involved and kept the course flowing.” “Enjoyed the general banter.” “Kept your interest with constantly changing subjects.” “Very relevant to my job.” “Promoted good ideas and practices to improve supervisory skills.” Ends Words: 746

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