1. Learning and Development 2016

2. Overview
The Learning and Development Team are committed to providing access to training and development opportunities for all Meridian Business Support employees. Whether you are new to Meridian, or an established member of the team, we plan to be able to deliver something to help you grow develop yourself and your abilities to better do your job, learn new skills or advance your career
In 2016 we have also committed to provide tailored programmes to meet the needs of all the divisions of Meridian Business Support and also to match the requirements of the wide variety of different job roles across our network, either internally, by designing our own programmes or by using specialist outsourced providers for more technical requirements

3. Overview
This guide provides an overview of the Learning and Development support available to all Meridian Business Support employees across all divisions:
New Starter Programmes
Development Programmes
Non-management Development Workshops
Management and Leadership Programmes
Career Development (HIPO Programmes)

4. Employee Development New Starters Development Career Development
Onboarding Programme
Welcome to Meridian
Candidate Management
Essential Legislation and Compliance
Business Development
Sales and Service Visits
Vacancy Management
New Starters
All new starters are enrolled on induction modules tailored the their specific job role
Menu of “Working SMARTER” workshops
Time Management
Solution Selling
Customer Service Excellence
Account Management
Project Management
Negotiation Skills
Presentation Skills
Management Skills
Line Managers nominate their team members for development workshops delivered regionally and tailored to local needs
Development
Career Development
High Potential Programmes
Insight into Management
Management Development
Leadership Development
Emotional Intelligence for Leaders
Annual programmes for nominated “High Performing” team members wishing to plan the next step in their career path with MBS

5. Business Partnerships
Development support to be driven by line managers as part of the review and appraisal process
Line managers identify learning and development needs
Line manager contacts Learning and Development Team to discuss training needs
Nominations can be made for “classroom” workshops
Regional workshops can be organised for local needs
On site support available on request

6. So how do I get the support I need?
The best place to start finding the right learning and development for you, is to talk to your line manager and discuss your personal development plan. The Learning and Development Team will be in regular contact with all managers across the Meridian network and will be able to discuss your individual needs and how best to supply what you need
The Meridian Business Support intranet contains lots of information about the type of learning and development that is available and many workshops are available via I-Trent self-serve to book places direct
But if you can’t find what you need, simply contact a member of the Learning and Development Team and ask!

7. New Starters
The Meridian Business Support New Starter Academy is provided automatically for all new employees as part of your on boarding process. You will receive an invitation to join the programme soon after starting your new role and, depending on the role you are taking, will attend some or all of the following initial workshops:
Module 1 (all new employees) Module 2 (Sales roles only)
Welcome to Meridian Business Development
Candidate Management Sales and Service Visits
Essential Legislation and Compliance Vacancy Management

8. Development Programmes
“Rules of Engagement” for development requests
The Learning and Development Team have provided each of the divisions of Meridian with a series of dates every quarter for development workshops
The content of these workshops is dictated by the Line Managers of each division
Line Managers approach the Learning and Development Team each quarter to request support to meet the needs of their teams
Once Line Managers have sufficient numbers of attendees for a workshop (usually between 5 and 10), the Learning and Development Team will tailor a workshop and agree a location and date for delivery
Line Managers will then use the feedback from these workshops to discuss the next stage of each individuals development

9. Development Programmes
Non-managerial workshops
Although many workshops are already available to attend, some may need some modification to meet specific need. However, here is a list of some of the most often requested topics:
Time Management Project Management Customer Service Excellence
Presentation Skills Negotiation Skills Solution Based Sales
Objection Handling Use of Social Media Business Development
IQX Candidate Attraction and Retention
Account Management Employment Law The Perm Process
Competency Based Interviewing Managing Customer Expectations

10. Development Programmes
Managerial workshops
Although many workshops are already available to attend, some may need some modification to meet specific need. However, here is a list of some of the most often requested topics:
Situational Leadership Coaching Skills
Managing Performance Leadership Skills
Emotional Intelligence Reviews and Appraisals
Discipline and Grievance Procedures
Remote Management Solution Based Sales
Presentation Skills Negotiation Skills

11. Development Programmes
External Programmes
Whilst we try to cater for most of the everyday needs of our employees, there are occasions when support is required from specialist suppliers for support in specialist and technical areas, such as
Headhunting and Retained Business TUPE transfers
PRINCE 2 Project Management Advanced Systems and Processes
ITIL Project Management Marketing Skills
CIPD

12. Career Development Programmes
The Learning and Development Team have created a programme for employees who have demonstrated outstanding performance over the last year or more and are now looking to advance their career path with Meridian Business Support
This high potential (HIPO) programme will be available to both existing managers and also those who wish to move into management roles in the future and will comprise of a year-long programme of assessments, workshops and project designed to enhance skills for the current role and also prepare delegates for future opportunities

13. The MBS HIPO Programme
Self and Line Manager nominations to attend (numbers limited)
Who is the nominee?
What will they get from the programme?
How will their line manager support their development during the programme?
What will be the benefit to Meridian?
Board approval required for nominations
Programme starts with 2-day residential assessment centre to identify individual and group development needs
Quarterly workshops to design and deliver development, project work and self-development plans
Final assessment day to establish progress and plan future actions

14. Assessment Centre 2-day Observed Competency Based Role-play Exercises
Business SWOT analysis
Client Visit
Business Plan
Coaching
Growing the Business Exercise
Competency Assessment
Communication
Business Development
Performance Management
Training and Development
Business Planning
Business Acumen
Achievement Orientation

15. Individual and Team Development

16. Individual and Team TNA
Name:
Your Job Title:
Your Manager:
Location:
Identify the specific skills/ knowledge/ behaviours that are needed to improve or develop further. Use the list below to provoke ideas, which may help you to decide upon an appropriate development method for each area requiring improvement. Use SMART objectives to ensure best results: SPECIFIC, MEASUREABLE, AGREED. REALISTIC and TIMED
Internal courses/ seminars ˜ External courses/ seminars ˜ Online Training ˜ Articles/ Journals ˜ Working in a Project Team ˜ Academic study ˜ Modular training ˜ On the job training ˜ Buddying ˜ Spending time in another branch/ contract/ department ˜ Expos
Skill/ Knowledge/ Behaviour to improve or develop further
Development Method(s) to be used
How will improvements be measured?
Target Completion date or period
How will my line manager support this improvement or development?
 COMMUNICATION
 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
 PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
 TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
 OTHER

17. Development Workshops
Development workshops aligned to group results
Above average scores are group strengths
Below average scores are development needs
Workshop content includes:
Leadership Development
Emotional Intelligence
Financial and Business Planning
Sales Skills, Presentations Skills and Negotiation Skills
People Development
Programme also includes group project work
Collaboration
Networking
Contribution to Business Performance
Final assessment workshop to review learning and progress