Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, has today launched the ‘Made Not Born’ Programme to promote Management & Leadership Skills Development across Northern Ireland.
He unveiled details of the programme during a visit to family run Jeffers Home Bakery, a Lisburn based company which has already experienced the benefits of investing in management and leadership training for its staff.
Based on the proven concept that great leaders and managers are not born, but made, the Department for Employment and Learning is encouraging Northern Ireland’s business community to make their own leaders and managers of tomorrow. The main purpose of the programme is to show Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) that by simply adopting good management practices they can achieve tangible business benefits including higher productivity, better returns on capital and more robust growth.
Speaking at the launch the Minister said; “We know that with the right ambition, investment and determination alongside the best support and guidance, employers can make their very own leaders and managers of tomorrow. We also know that when equipped with new skills they in turn can make their businesses succeed.
“My Department’s Skills Strategy spells out the ambition for Northern Ireland to be a leader in developing and deploying management and leadership capabilities fit for 21st Century challenges. The global economic downturn means that need is now greater than ever. As improved management and leadership skills are proven worldwide to be a highly effective way for companies to gain competitive edge, it is vital that Northern Ireland SMEs invest now in order to be better positioned for the inevitable economic upswing.”
Encouraging SMEs to get involved, Sir Reg continued: “We have devised a flexible and multi-layered programme which makes it easy for companies to engage with leadership and management development and form a normal part of their business operations. As well as delivering a number of specific programmes offering a range of entry points and comprehensive support packages, we are keen to encourage businesses to see and experience the real benefits of investing in relevant and meaningful leadership & management training.
“Through a programme of informative events and wider information sharing, delivered in partnership with various organisations who share in our ambition, we can help businesses of all sizes recognise and realise the benefits of improving their management and leadership skills to gain economic advantage. I hope that SMEs throughout Northern Ireland will engage with the programme and make management and leadership development work for them.”
The overall programme is based on sharing local and global best practice, building partnerships and engaging directly with NI companies to encourage them to consider the potential benefits of investing in leadership and management skills. As well as direct support programmes, it will include a campaign information website which also went live today – www.delni.gov.uk/madenotborn and a series of promotional and information events.
An initial ‘Made Not Born Information Roadshow’ will begin on Tuesday 24th November in both Templepatrick and Newry and continues until February 2010. Details of how to book a free place at these initial events can be found on www.delni.gov.uk/madenotborn. March will then see a series of Masterclasses and a Management & Leadership Skills conference