Highlights – 10 December

Against a backdrop in the UK of low productivity, skills shortages and rising costs, apprenticeships are once again rising up the agenda. 

At CMI, we had our eye on one aspect of November’s Budget in particular: the Growth and Skills Levy, which will include fully funded apprenticeships for eligible under-25s working for SMEs.

Petra Wilton, CMI’s director of policy and external affairs, welcomed the news, but she was quick to stress that small businesses must ensure line managers have the “training and skills they need to make a success of it”. 

“Our research tells us that people who feel they are treated well at work are 7.5 times more likely to stay,” she added. “This means the Growth and Skills Levy funding needs to continue to support workers across the economy, at every age and stage of their working lives and regardless of their background.”

Concerns remain

Others have joined CMI in expressing reservations. An article in Wonkhe highlights that universities and other employers are concerned that the government may restrict funding for Level 6 apprenticeships. The government has already announced changes that will see funding for most Level 7 apprenticeships withdrawn for those aged 22 and over from January 2026. The Wonkhe piece featured a letter, coordinated by CMI, that sets out opposition to “any possible defunding or restriction of Level 6 apprenticeships”.  

Another issue is whether SMEs are in a position to take advantage of the latest changes. CMI joined a range of education, skills and business organisations in signing an open letter to the government, which flagged how SME participation in apprenticeship schemes has “declined markedly”. Our letter pressed for urgent action to help SMEs take on more apprentices, proposing ringfenced funding and enhanced financial incentives.

The ability to listen

Another workplace issue with big implications for the economy is menopause support. Caroline Mallan, CMI’s head of external affairs, appeared in a New Statesman roundtable discussion with Equalities Minister Seema Malhotra that explored how legislation and cultural change can support women to stay in the workforce – to the benefit of the country’s coffers. 

Caroline argued that, if you want to improve organisational culture, you need managers who have been appropriately trained. 

“Train your managers,” she said. “Don’t train your managers in menopause awareness. Train your managers in how to be good managers who have listening skills, who know how to have challenging conversations.”

Be deliberate

This brings us back to the perennial topic of accidental managers. Spanish outlet Murcia is the latest to report on the phenomenon, citing research by CMI which estimates that 82% of managers have received no formal management training.

CMI partners with universities to help counteract the accidental manager trend. The Bournemouth Echo reports that Arts University Bournemouth has partnered with CMI to offer Dual Accreditation across all undergraduate courses in its School of Arts, Media and Creative Industries Management. 

Meanwhile, City A.M.’s print edition picked out CMI’s Chartered Management Consultant (ChMC) accreditation as the new “gold standard” for the consulting industry, noting over 2,000 individuals now have the status. 

Elsewhere, we continue to grow our partnerships with organisations like the NHS. The BMJ (British Medical Journal) covered a new report by The King’s Fund and the University of Birmingham entitled ‘Why management matters so much for the success of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan’. The BMJ headline put it bluntly when it concluded NHS reforms will fail without major investment in management, experts warn. 

In response, CMI chief executive Ann Francke OBE CMgr CCMI said: “Professionalising NHS management is not about adding bureaucracy, it’s about giving managers the confidence, competence and credibility to lead effectively in an increasingly complex system. CMI is proud to have worked with NHS England to support the newly created management and leadership framework – it is one more step towards ensuring the health service at every level is led by professionals equipped to deliver the transformation, resilience and innovation that the next decade of healthcare demands.”

Tackling change

In this week’s Better Managers newsletter, change is a key theme. We sat down with Manisha Mistry CMgr FCMI FIC, who shares how winning Chartered Manager of the Year in 2020 set her on a path to leading Rolls-Royce’s new strategic intent around AI. 

Last week’s Chartered Manager of the Week, Sunil Patel CMgr FCMI, is also harnessing AI. As head of operations at Hollowood Chemists, he’s using the technology to speed up the process of dispensing medication. 

We also share an excerpt from SuperAdaptability, a new book that explores how people can transform constraints into opportunities. And we learn how Afzal Sayed Munna CMgr MCMI used passion and purpose to reshape and reunite a department at the University of Hull London. 

Finally, in response to CMI’s major new report on sustainability, Leading the Pathway to Net Zero, we asked two Chartered Managers to share what the sustainability challenge demands from managers and leaders. You can read their thoughts and tips here.

Best,

Matt Roberts CMgr FCMI

Director of membership and professional development, CMI