Government puts £4m boost into management skills

19 June 2014 -

“Management

Commission releases funds for enhancing leadership talents in four of the UK’s biggest business sectors

A £4m trove of co-investment funding has been offered to UK companies to help them boost their management skills, it was announced this week. The money has been made available through government body the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), as part of an ongoing state-driven programme to encourage the development of employer-led solutions to recurring skills problems.

UKCES commissioner Nigel Whitehead, who also serves as group managing director of BAE Systems, explained: “Our research shows that the UK lags behind its international competitors when it comes to management skills. That matters. Good management practices boost productivity, staff engagement and ultimately drive economic growth. And while the UK’s best firms may be world leading, the sad truth is that, generally, management capability in the UK isn’t as good as many other countries – particularly the US.”

However, he added: “improved management isn’t something that can be imposed on business. It needs to be led from within. That’s why we’re making up to £4 million co-investment available to businesses to help them find innovative and effective ways of working with their networks or supply chains to boost management and leadership capability.”

The competition is open to organisations in four major sectors:

1. Manufacturing

2. Construction

3. Finance

4. Law

At present, UKCES expects to invest an average of up to £300,000 per successful proposal. All proposals must be led – and partially funded – by major businesses, who will work with their supply chains or networks to address issues such as:

Raising the capability of leaders and managers to align skills, job design and other workplace practices

Boosting demand for good leadership and management skills

Increasing the opportunities for managers to interact with one another and learn from their peers

To find out more, including how to apply, head this way to the UKCES site

If you are an employer in any of these four sectors and are interested in partnering with CMI to develop a proposal, please email your thoughts to Lisa Reid at lisa.reid@managers.org.uk.

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