Our learning and development programme
Our UK Bus learning and development programme is one of the most sophisticated in the industry.
Leadership Development
It is founded on three guiding principles:
- All learning must impact on and be measured against business critical operations;
- All levels of the organisation must continually learn and develop to ensure individual and organisational improvement and future success;
- All learning, wherever feasible, should link to vocational or academic qualifications.
The programme sets out competence levels for each job role and provides a clear route for career progression through the company.
As part of their induction all drivers work towards an S/NVQ in Road Passenger Transport. All of our drivers are encouraged to work towards this qualification which was achieved by more than 1,100 additional drivers during the last year. From September 2008 all drivers will also receive additional training to meet the new European Directive requirements for drivers of buses and coaches to hold a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). We were one of the first ten centres to be accredited for delivery of this training. So far we are accredited for Advanced Safe Driving and Customer Service training. A further three modules will be developed during 2008/09.
All middle managers and supervisors have the opportunity to attend our highly successful leadership development programmes. These seek to build people and commercial management skills. These lead to a BTEC Level 3 certificate in advanced leadership and NVQ Level 2 in Team Leading.
In 2006/07 we introduced a follow on ‘Developing Leadership’ programme leading to a Diploma in Management awarded by the Chartered Management Institute.
In 2006 we introduced a Director Development programme for our senior directors supported by a mentoring and coaching scheme. This programme was developed in partnership with the Institute of Directors and has been extremely well received. Further participants continue to join on an ongoing basis.
The first six graduates from the Director development scheme receive their Diplomas in Company direction from the Institute of Directors.
“Having embarked on the continuous learning path as a bus driver, I successfully graduated with a BSc(Hons) from the Open University in 1998. This latest qualification encompasses the knowledge and awareness that are necessary to function effectively as a director. I regard this as a testimony to the FirstGroup philosophy of continuous learning, and am proud to have been associated with the positive commitment of our learning and development team”.
Dennis Hajdukiewicz, UK Bus Performance Director
We also have a well established graduate training programme, where our management trainees undertake a five-year development programme that covers technical, operational and academic development. Last year we worked with the Open University and gained accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport to link this to an MBA which is also available to other high-potential employees. Earlier this year, 10 graduates and 4 senior managers passed their first year exams.