Eglinton Influencing Programme achieves world-class learning certification for the oil and gas industry

Eglinton is proud to announce that our highly acclaimed Influencing & Impact programme, known as Pi2, has become is the first programme to be accredited by the Oil and Gas Academy, OPITO.

The new rigorous certification process introduced by OPITO – The Oil & Gas Academy will allow employers and employees to quickly identify the best training courses in terms of quality and relevance for their individual sector.

Willie Maltman, Director of Eglinton, said: “We are delighted to be working with a forward thinking organisation like OPITO who, like us, are passionate about promoting high standards across the sector. It is clearly important that leaders within the Oil & Gas industry have access to the best resources for upskilling their people. This is especially true in areas where there is high demand and a need for increased effectiveness and enhanced performance. We are confident that this important recognition will enable us to develop further our growing client base in the energy sector”. For more on Eglinton’s Positive Impact and Influencing Programme, Pi2 click here.

OPITO – The Oil & Gas Academy Chief Executive David Doig said: “A highly skilled workforce is essential for ensuring the health and longevity of the oil and gas industry but until now there has been no benchmark by which to measure the quality of individual learning products available on the open market.

“With many companies offering similar products employers have had little in the way of independent assurance as to which ones offer the highest quality learning provision. Not only will this new scheme ensure that learning products bearing OPITO – The Oil & Gas Academy certification are of a recognised quality but we anticipate it will also help drive up standards across the industry.”

“The UK has an established reputation as a global centre of excellence in terms of the export of our people, services and products. This initiative emphasises the Academy’s position as a vitally important channel through which the industry can further its collaborative efforts to develop a workforce capable of providing a sustainable future for both the UK industry and the international supply chain which it supports.”

Learning products with either a proven track record for success or a high level of established users will be eligible to apply for certification. They will undergo a stringent audit to establish that they fulfil a market requirement, compliment a recognised occupational standard and demonstrate an established usage.

The first ever industry-regulated certification scheme, it is the latest addition to the Academy’s world class learning supply chain and complements international efforts to secure the UK’s position as a global centre of excellence and skills hub for the oil and gas industry.

It is anticipated that once established in the UK, certification will be rolled out on a global level.

Jim Cameron, the Academy’s Director of Approvals and Competence Services, said: “The accreditation process will also benefit providers by offering a quality assurance process which demonstrates their product meets a rigorous set of audit criteria. With the Academy posting successful applications on the website open to all potential users, selection of a bona fide, quality-assured learning product will be less problematic for all concerned.”

As the industry’s focal point for skills, learning and workforce development, the Oil & Gas Academy provides an effective link between the industry, learning establishments and training providers throughout the world to improve the supply of skilled people into the oil and gas sector.

INSPIRATION AT COATBRIDGE COLLEGE

Eglinton are delighted to be working with the senior team of Scotland’s First College to support their goal of becoming a “Great College”. Coatbridge College senior staff are set to reach new heights through the launch of Inspirational Leadership training programme to enhance their skills and improve the student experience.

John Doyle, Chief Executive and Principal at Coatbridge College, said: ‘Through the Inspirational Leadership training initiative we are working to improve our leadership across the College, ultimately improving the student experience.

We strive to continually improve and enhance our provision and services providing our students with the best possible learning experience. It is through continued investment in our staff and sharing good practice that we will achieve our goal of Scotland’s first College becoming a ‘great’ College.’

The Inspirational Leadership training focuses on building the skills and knowledge of over 30 members of staff and will be delivered by Eglinton, a leading consultancy who specialise in the development of leaders and senior managers. The training will be delivered through situational leadership workshops, self reflection and evaluation, allowing staff to apply their knowledge and evaluate its effectiveness.”

Training will include strategic leadership and thinking, relationship management and managing performance and takes place over the coming months to allow staff to start using their new skills and knowledge in everyday work, while honing their skills and gaining a greater understanding as the development programme continues.

At the end of the programme an evaluation against the agreed objectives will take place to determine the impact of the training on the College, and in particular, the impact on the student and their learning experience.

10 out of 10 for our 10th School!

Over 40 of Scotland’s senior  managers were inspired last week at our annual Holyrood Summer School – our respected development  programme for leaders. They heard about the priorities and concerns  from  those running the country and its major organisations, including; Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning ; Elish Angiolini, The Lord Advocate, Baroness Ford of Cunningham and Mary Grant MD of First ScotRail.   As well as considering the skills and challenges of leadership, the participants had the opportunity to  develop their understanding  of the Scottish economy, the strategic challenges of running  rail services, health, councils, colleges, police and the key issues impacting on  housing and regeneration.

The former First Minister Henry McLeish discussed the work of the Prisons Commission and Sir John Elvidge, Permanent Secretary, Scottish Government discussed the changes in  governing  Scotland in the 10 years since the Scottish Parliament reconvened. Robert Black the Auditor General examined the performance and accountability of public bodies.

This was the 10th annual gathering of the Holyrood Summer School and our largest attended school yet.  Such is its success, there are already a few bookings confirmed for next year!  We are encouraged that forward thinking organisations are investing in the development of their key staff to better understand the issues and develop their capacity for the future.

The full programme of speakers for the 2008 School  included;

• The Rt. Hon. Elish Angiolini - Lord Advocate, Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service
• Robert Black - Auditor General for Scotland, Audit Scotland
• David Bolger - Director of Leeds Castle Development Programme, Leadership Centre for Local Government
• Stephen Boyle - Senior Economic Adviser, Royal Bank of Scotland
• Tom Divers OBE - Chief Executive, Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS
• Sir John Elvidge CBE - Permanent Secretary, Scottish Government
• David Fenton - Senior Economic Adviser, Royal Bank of Scotland
• Baroness Ford of Cunninghame - Managing Director, Royal Bank of Canada Social Infrastructure & Development Team & Chair of Irvine Bay URC
• Mary Grant - Managing Director, First ScotRail
• Brian Lister OBE - Chief Executive, Scottish Further Education Unit
• Colin McKerracher QPM- Chief Constable, Grampian Police
• Rt. Hon. Henry McLeish - Chair, Scottish Prisons Commission
• David Martin - Chief Executive, Renfrewshire Council
• Bill Reeve - Director of Rail Delivery, Transport Scotland
• Dr Craig Thomson, Principal - Adam Smith College
• Alf Young - Assistant Editor, The Herald

Influencing Programme Hits the Spot!

Our Personal Influence and Impact skills development programme - PI2 for short – is really hitting the spot with rave reviews from our previous programme participants.  We offer this exclusive programme for organisational managers and leaders several times per year, with mixed attendance from a range of business sectors.  Word is fast spreading on how powerful and effective this programme is, which has led to us being asked to help a large group of local authority staff to hone their influencing tactics to help them to tackle issues such as improving staff performance, resolving conflict, giving direction, selling ideas, competing for resources and negotiating.

For more information on this programme, please contact Willie Maltman info@eglinton.co.uk

 

Eglinton Develops Beyond Scotland

High impact leadership development events, delivered with a number of our Scottish clients including those within the Scottish Justice system, have led to the design and delivery of a successful leadership development programme in Northern Ireland.  Following very positive feedback, in particular from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, a new highly interactive 3-day programme is now being delivered to clients in Northern Ireland.  Based on experiential learning, the programme equips senior leaders and high potential staff with the tools and techniques they need to be successful as effective leaders, both now and in the future. 

Participants are required to take responsibility for a fictitious organisation, devise a strategy, create short and medium term plans, resource their plans and begin implementation.  At the end of the programme, participants are held to account for the impact of the decisions they have taken - whether successful or not!

For more information on this programme, please contact Willie Maltman on info@eglinton.co.uk

Eglinton Continues to Expand its Key Support Role in Scottish Higher Education

We continue to build on our reputation for excellence in learning and development by working in partnership with the University of the West of Scotland.  In 2007, the University of Paisley and Bell College merged to create Scotland’s biggest modern university.  The University has now embarked upon a significant £160 million campus investment programme.  With upwards of 18,000 students and almost 2000 staff across a wide geographical base, the University has identified and responded to the need to rethink its shape and structure – leading to a commitment to a new staffing structure.

Eglinton has entered into a partnership arrangement with the University to design and deliver a development programme enabling Senior Lecturers to enhance and hone their leadership competencies, in response to the need to take on a more explicit leadership role.  The programme will enable them to fulful their responsibilities to the University’s current and future aims and objectives.