Funds offered for 10 more managers
Apr 9, 2010
Free training and coaching is being offered to managers and supervisors facing redundancy to help them prepare for new careers and a brighter future.
The University of Sunderland Business School recently won funding from One North East for the scheme and has agreed to provide ten more places on its successful Associate and Fellowship Scheme.
The course, which normally costs £1,500, quickly filled its first 36 places.
Head of Flexible Learning at the University, Pauline Wonders, was keen to extend the chance of places to local people at such a challenging time for regional businesses.
The university has agreed to find the funds which will allow ten more people to take part in a course which has won glowing testimonials from its first cohort of students. Many of them have discovered new career directions since beginning the programme.
The first associate and fellowship scheme is just about to finish. It includes three one-day workshops and one-to-one coaching carried out by people with expertise in career planning, over three months.
Pauline Wonders said: "It's great news that we've been able to extend the scheme; it has been a great success and has come at just the right time for many people.
"It is helping them navigate their way through issues involved in being redundant, network with others in the same position and encourages them to find their own path to future employment. It's not just about getting people back into work, it's about getting them into the right type of work for them."
Mike Cockburn, programme manager for the scheme, said: "The role of the coach is to help the individual extend the range of their thinking. You could work in a different field or industry, set up your own business, your own franchise, you could do a university course, even a year out. There are a million and one things you can do, and we open eyes and minds to the opportunities that exist."
The programme is open to individuals from a managerial or supervisory background or to employers who are seeking help for staff going through the redundancy process.
DAVID Smith, former managing director at Filtronic at Newton Aycliffe, wanted to explore new directions after deciding to leave the company.
He said: "The scheme helped me create a vision of how you want to live your whole life, and ensure a positive work/life balance. The last thing I wanted was to be a managing director again.
"The intimacy of the programme, particularly the one-to-one sessions, was challenging but very, very good. It encouraged me to confront issues in a constructive way and move forward. I'm now a management consultant for a company in Sunderland, and have other consultancy roles in the pipeline elsewhere in the region."
Sarah Hudspeth, after 11 years in public relations, faced redundancy from her position with a regeneration programme. Sarah describes the programme as "like pressing pause and taking a huge step which allows you to see yourself and career very differently."
"My first coaching session helped to focus and crystallise what I wanted to do, enabled me to overcome my fears and gave me the confidence to 'give it a go'."'
After 27 years in the Army and nine years in the mobile telecoms industry, David Petty was made redundant. He found out about the programme through Job Centre Plus."
David said: 'During the workshops we learn from each other's experiences, gather feedback and reflect on their perceptions.
"This has allowed me to raise expectations of myself, think about personal development, how I present myself and potential career opportunities available to me. I find the tutors and coach to have a positive, professional approach which has instilled me with confidence, self-belief and the feel-good factor again."
Associate and Fellowship Programme