Article: “You absorb best practice almost by osmosis – but qualifications bring kudos” Written by Jamie Oliver Tuesday 11 November 2025 Share Share to LinkedIn Share to Facebook Share via email Joe Swindells CMgr MCMI discusses his journey from trainer to head of L&D and why a CMI Level 7 qualification helped him “practise what he preaches” “I talk to people about the ladder of competence,” says Joe Swindells CMgr MCMI, head of learning and development (L&D) at The OM Group, a Coventry-based firm that provides consultancy and training to clients in the construction sector across the UK. “If I think back through my career, I’ve moved from being unconsciously incompetent (not knowing what I don’t know) right through to being unconsciously competent – which means you reach a stage when you’re doing work on autopilot without thinking about the reasons why. “Doing the CMI Level 7 qualification in Leadership Coaching and Mentoring was a chance to step back and examine my processes and practices against a validated set of criteria, first-class academic research and best practice in the industry.” “It’s about validating what I do” Joe, who is based in Liverpool, says CMI has been on his radar for years. “I actually spend a lot of time directing people to CMI qualifications. It made perfect sense after all that time supporting others to concentrate on my own L&D. Partly it was about practising what I preach. But it was also about validating what I do. And to make sure I’m doing it right! It was good for my own team to see I’ve done it. “You go through your career absorbing best practice and theories almost by osmosis. But having a CMI qualification brings some kudos.” He adds: “As a Chartered CIPD professional and holder of the CMI Level 7 qualification, I bring credibility, experience and fresh thinking to every conversation, combining commercial awareness with a deep commitment to people development.” Level 7 apprenticeships – what’s changing? From January 2026, government funding for most Level 7 apprenticeships will no longer be available for learners aged 22 and over. This shift is prompting employers and education providers across the UK to act now to secure funding while it remains in place. Find out more Joe has been with The OM Group for a year, but has spent two decades in the L&D industry, during which time he’s worked across the public, private and third sectors. It’s a career that’s taken him from highly regulated financial services environments to commercial industries such as construction and property development, and given him a broad perspective on what makes organisations and their people thrive. “I cut my teeth as a trainer, standing up in front of a room of people delivering workshops, but, like a lot of people, my role has evolved and now it’s more about trying to identify exactly what a company needs, working out the problems they’re trying to solve and then providing the type of solution that will help them achieve their goals.” He continues: “I suppose I’m good at taking organisations from having a thin or non-existent L&D function to one that has a fully-fledged team or strategy. Because, and I probably shouldn’t say this as someone who does L&D, simply going on a course is never the complete solution people are looking for. It’s about embedding what they’ve learned, developing processes, reviewing and looking for longer-term improvements across their organisations. That’s why the CMI courses are so good.” “I talk to companies about developing people” Joe says interactions with clients often start with them requesting management workshops, but it soon moves on. Keep reading: more from Joe Login or register below for Free Instant Access Login If you are already registered as a CMI Friend, Subscriber or Member, just login to view this article. Confirm your registration Login below to confirm your details and access this article. Sign in with email Email remember me remember Forget? Please confirm that you want to switch off the "Sign in with email" remember me feature. Yes No Register for Free Access Not yet a Member, Subscriber or Friend? Register as a CMI Friend for free, and get access to this and many other exclusive resources, as well as weekly updates straight to your inbox. You have successfully registered As a CMI Friend, you now have access to whole range of CMI Friendship benefits. Please login to the left to confirm your registration and access the article. Article Our extensive range of articles are designed to keep you in the loop with all the latest management and leadership best practice, research and news. Members See More CMI Members have access to thousands of online learning and CPD resources. Learn more about our membership benefits Join The Community CMI offers a variety of flexible membership solutions, tailored to your needs. Find out more and get involved in the CMI community today.
