• Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
    • Business Mag
  • Sport
    • Football
    • NAFC
    • Cricket
    • Durham Wildcats
    • American Football
    • Baseball
    • Rugby
    • Youth Football
  • Features
    • Blog
    • Picture Galleries
  • Community
    • A.T People
    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Aycliffe Today
Aycliffe Today
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
    • Business News
      International partnership to drive net zero innovation

      International partnership to drive net zero innovation

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 74

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 74

      New partnership to expand global access to online education

      New partnership to expand global access to online education

      Getting To Know You – Carol Gaskarth

      Getting To Know You – Carol Gaskarth

    • Business Mag
      Aycliffe Business: Issue 74

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 74

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 73

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 73

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 72

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

      Aycliffe Business: Issue 71

  • Sport
    • Football
      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe Youthy round-up

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe stay third with 4-0 away win

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Aycliffe go top with four wins from first four games

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

      Unbeaten start for Sports Club

    • NAFC
      FA Cup weekend for Aycliffe as Newtonians get first win on the board

      FA Cup weekend for Aycliffe as Newtonians get first win on the board

      League campaign returns for Aycliffe after summer changes

      League campaign returns for Aycliffe after summer changes

      More new signings as Aycliffe prepare to welcome Darlington in friendly

      More new signings as Aycliffe prepare to welcome Darlington in friendly

      New arrivals as Newton Aycliffe FC prepare for 2025-26

      New arrivals as Newton Aycliffe FC prepare for 2025-26

    • Cricket
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

    • Durham Wildcats
      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WILDCATS FIGHTBACK TO SECURE CUP WIN

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      WOLVES EDGE IT AGAINST WILDCATS

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      DURHAM WILDCATS 73, GLASGOW ROCKS 99

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

      WILDCATS SLAY LIONS AGAIN

    • American Football
      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS BEAT AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WARRIORS START SEASON IN STYLE!

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WOODHAM WARRIORS VICTORIOUS

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

      WARRIORS COACH TO TRAIN GB SQUAD

    • Baseball
      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      Aycliffe Cricket round-up

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      COUNCILLORS 'PITCH' FOR LOCAL SPORTS CLUB!

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      SPARTANS UP FOR TOP AWARD

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

      NEWTON AYCLIFFE SPARTANS AT WOODHAM

    • Rugby
      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe fall to heavy defeat against league leaders

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Aycliffe notch up another loss in local derby

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Rugby: Aycliffe in bottom two after Whitley Bay defeat

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

      Aycliffe return to winning ways with hard-fought victory over Bishop

    • Youth Football
      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Newton Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

      Aycliffe Juniors round-up

  • Features
    • Blog
      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      Covid-19 crisis update from your MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      ‘Now we must move forward’ says MP

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      Business Advice: Cash Flow

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

      The Aycliffe Blue Blog

    • Picture Galleries
      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      Picture Gallery: Duke of Kent visits Ebac

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: Hitachi Opening Ceremony

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: ROF 59 in progress

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

      PICTURES: Ayclife dancers in national finals

  • Community
    • A.T People
      Spring 2015

      Spring 2015

      December 2014

      December 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

      Aug - Sept 2014

    • Services Directory
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
How an Optimum Skills course brings the best out of existing, new and upcoming managers
Home
Business

How an Optimum Skills course brings the best out of existing, new and upcoming managers

January 7th, 2025 Martin Walker Business 0 comments 375

top banner

The best managers keep their teams productive and engaged – and a course offered by Optimum Skills helps delegates do just that and more.

The Skills Bootcamp in Business and People Management gives junior managers, new managers and first-time leaders the toolkit to get the best out of their team – and themselves.

And by encouraging learner participation, the Bootcamp – which leads to a CMI Level 4 Certificate in Management and Leadership – ensures an experience that’s thought-provoking, collaborative and insightful, rather than dry and theory-heavy.

Indeed, as tutor Sal Jefford points out, “it’s not just sitting there watching PowerPoints!”

The course has two units: management and leadership styles, which looks at how to motivate and manage people, and influencing, which looks at what leadership means, communication skills and how to influence and negotiate.

Held one day a week for 6-8 weeks, depending on business needs, the government funds it through the North East Combined Authority, for businesses of only 250 employees or less costs just £250 per delegate, but the training is open to businesses of any size.

Sessions can be held across the region, including Optimum Skills’ head office in Newton Aycliffe, and their hubs in Middlesbrough, Gateshead and Newcastle, and online via Teams.

Indeed, flexibility is one of the course’s key strengths, because it can be made bespoke to suit a firm’s specific requirements.

Three cohorts have taken the course so far, with the next three due to start in January.

And if the feedback from the first three is anything to go by, it seems delegates are getting plenty from it, with comments including “it’s nice to be reassured that you are behaving in the right way and that colleagues and leaders are working in the same way and supporting each other” and “once I got into it, I started to understand why I was on the course and what useful things I could get out of it, like the different management styles.”

Having worked in vocational education for more than 20 years, tutor Sal knows what makes a good course – and she’s delighted how quickly those on this one get involved.

She said: “The course lends itself to lots of learner input. I teach some theory but there’s lots of discussion about things like negotiation skills, motivation and learning about the academic theories of human behaviour.

“A lot of learners I’ve been working with are purely practical learners, so it really suits them – and I often tend to hear ‘I don’t know as much as I thought I did!’

“And because it’s focused on the ‘people’ side of management, it cuts across different workplaces which means it’s very easy to tailor to a specific industry.”

A variety of businesses have enrolled delegates on the course so far, ranging from solicitors and manufacturing companies to an ice cream business!

And while several come from further afield, Optimum Skills is keen to reach out to its Aycliffe neighbours, who might not realise just what a useful and potentially game-changing resource they have on their doorsteps.

Sal added: “A lot of people who’ve done it so far have said they were really pleased that what they were doing was the correct way to go about things. It surprised them what they were capable of.

“For example, we had a 63-year-old who’d left school at 14, went into the army and had no education since then.

“He didn’t want to be on the course to start with but after a couple of weeks, he really started to enjoy it and developed a sense of personal pride in participating and getting the work done.

“I’m very passionate about this course from a learner point of view. Age isn’t a barrier and everyone can take something positive and valuable away from it.

“And the better team leaders are at managing their time and employees, the better it is for their company. It gives them insight they might not otherwise have had.”

For more information, call 01325 311832 or email [email protected].

 

top banner

Share it!

Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Next article Cost of living support – PCP launches its Welcome Space in Aycliffe
Previous article Council’s Christmas and New Year closures

Related News

International partnership to drive net zero innovation Business
September 2nd, 2025

International partnership to drive net zero innovation

New partnership to expand global access to online education Business
August 26th, 2025

New partnership to expand global access to online education

Getting To Know You – Carol Gaskarth Business
August 4th, 2025

Getting To Know You – Carol Gaskarth

LATEST VIDEO

This week on A.T

Sep 9th 3:47 PM
Sport

Aycliffe Cricket round-up

Sep 8th 6:14 PM
News

PCC urges the public to play their part to stop drink and drug driving

Sep 3rd 3:55 PM
Community

PCP re-awarded Volunteer Kitemark for fantastic volunteer experience

Sep 2nd 11:22 AM
Business

International partnership to drive net zero innovation

Sep 1st 12:19 PM
Sport

Aycliffe Cricket round-up

Sep 1st 10:08 AM
News

Work to improve County Durham’s bus stops

Aug 29th 10:11 AM
Business

Aycliffe Business: Issue 74

Aug 27th 6:16 PM
Sport

Aycliffe Cricket round-up

Aug 26th 9:47 AM
Business

New partnership to expand global access to online education

Aug 24th 2:25 PM
Community

GCSE success for students across County Durham

Recommend
Follow @AycliffeToday
  • Home
  • History
  • News
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Community
  • Video
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Back to top
© Aycliffe Today 2019. All rights reserved.
Developed by Thrive

Get our latest news direct to your inbox every Friday - subscribe to our free e-newsletter today.

Subscribe Now