"This appointment shows the success we are seeing for our executive education division"
Phil Whitman
A Salford firm has struck a deal with Brother UK to become a preferred training provider for senior members of the technology company’s 200-strong workforce.
The agreement is with Salford Professional Development and will see Brother UK staff take part in a variety of programmes and courses for managers and leaders.
They will be run by SPD’s executive education division and will cover areas such as such as leadership development, responsibilities of directorship, coaching and mentoring, project management, public speaking, contract negotiation, business law and finance.
SPD also offers a course leading to a Certificate in Executive Business Administration, and runs programmes for the Institute of Directors and the Chartered Management Institute.
Under the agreement with Brother UK, SPD will provide training for staff from junior manager to director level, encompassing departments such as sales, marketing, operations and finance.
Brother UK, which sells printers, scanners and labelling machines, has its headquarters in Audenshaw, Tameside, and has annual revenues of more than £110m.
Linda Willows, the head of legal and business management at Brother UK and its learning and development officer, said: “We want people at their best as fast as possible so they get more out of their jobs and make a bigger contribution to the business.
“This is partly achieved through training, and SPD will be my first port of call when we are looking at strategic and managerial programmes and courses for staff who currently occupy senior positions and those who will do so in the future.
“We also link the training to other aspects of our operations, such as appraisals, promotions and talent mapping, so we get the right person on the right seat on the right bus.”
Phil Whitman, director of executive education, who is pictured with Linda, said: “We’re delighted to be appointed as the preferred supplier to Brother UK. It’s a tremendous brand and company and we understand the business and its aspirations.
“This appointment shows the success we are seeing for our executive education division and opportunities and benefits we can offer companies and organisations.”
SPD established its executive education division in 2016 to provide training for leaders and managers in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
The division has delivered or booked £1.3m of training so far in this financial year, which runs to July 31.
It is on track to achieve revenues of £2m for the full 12 months, which will catapult it into the top 10 UK higher education institutions offering executive education by income, said Mr Whitman.
SPD, which is a subsidiary of the University of Salford, posted turnover of £4.87m for the year to July 31, an increase of 31 per cent, boosted by more than £1m of revenues for the executive education division.
Academics and experts from the IoD, the University of Salford Business School and other organisations provide the training provided by the business and all of its profits are ploughed back into the university.
