Leek United staff achieve advanced qualifications 09 / 08 / 2010

STAFF at Leek United Building Society are celebrating after gaining advanced qualifications in management this summer.

The Society, which employs a staff of 140, in a network of 12 branches and a head office in St Edward Street, Leek, teamed up with Skillsbase at Leek College to offer nationally recognised NVQ Level 3 in Management training alongside its internal Development Academy. The NVQ was delivered free of charge through the Government's Train to Gain scheme.

Already the investment has paid off for three of the ten trainees: Congleton branch manager David Peet, Ashbourne branch manager Julie Martin and head office senior savings adviser Karl Gee have all been promoted as a result of the training course.

A delighted David Peet, aged 28, said: "I joined Leek United as a mortgage adviser but, following the credit crunch, I moved to Congleton branch. I have learned so much through the training including people management and health and safety that, when the branch manager's job came up, I put in my application. I would not have had the confidence to do that prior to the course but now I have the leadership skills I need and feel very lucky to have been so well trained."

Helen Alcock, Leek United's deputy HR manager, explained: "We set up our Development Academy to identify potential in our staff and it's been a great opportunity to challenge them. Through the training, they have gained better skills and a greater understanding of their own capabilities and we have seen members of staff in a new light.

"By running our own Academy training alongside the NVQ in Management delivered by Skillsbase, we have given all ten students a great opportunity to learn from senior members of staff.

"Everyone from our chief executive Kevin Wilson to our chairman Paul Marriott has been involved in delivering workshops to the students. They have been set tasks to work on and have worked in teams, visiting each other's homes and putting in hours of study outside normal working hours."

Skillsbase spokesman Sarah Johnson said: "I am delighted to hear that some staff have already been promoted following the training and, for Leek College, this is a great example of what can be achieved by working in partnership with local business.

"We are already developing our Level 4 qualification in management and hope to see some Leek United employees furthering their training with us."