UK Training Industry Press Releases

A business development organisation is continuing to build on its award winning partnership with the UK's largest motoring organisation.

Acua has now supported the development of around 100 future leaders at the AA after the company's sixth group of learners successfully completed an innovative work-based skills development programme.

The AA were one of Acua's first clients when the company was launched in 2008 and last year the two organisations celebrated winning a partnership and collaboration award at the National Training Awards (NTA).

Over the last three years staff at the AA's Breakdown centre in Oldbury, and AA Insurance in Cardiff and Newcastle have completed eight month leadership programmes designed and led by Acua, with accreditation awarded by its partner Coventry University.

Janet Craig, management development manager at the AA, said more than 60 per cent of the latest group to take advantage of the programme in Oldbury had already earned promotions.

"Managers across the company have recognised the Acua programme to be having a really positive impact on decision-making, engagement and problem solving within the AA," she said.

"In fact ten of the team at Oldbury who recently completed the Acua programme actually secured promotions during the eight months they were learning, which is a great result.

"Up to 86 per cent have also shown a willingness to carry on and work towards further qualifications which is also extremely positive."

Craig Davidson, who is among the latest group at Oldbury and works in the Service Delivery team, said: "I was promoted around three months after enrolling and I've found myself using a lot of the skills I've picked up during this time to my benefit, and ultimately to the benefit of the AA's customers who use our services.

"It was really interesting to take on this challenge and learn different skills and see how I would approach situations differently before and after taking part in the programme."

Acua business coach Ian Scholes, who delivers the programme, said the partnership with the AA is continuing to go from strength to strength.

"The AA was one of Acua's first clients when we launched back in 2008 and since then we have developed a really strong working relationship," he said.

"We've now worked with six groups and close to 100 learners across three sites and we're delighted with the progress that has been made and to be playing a major role supporting the AA developing its future leaders."

PICTURE CAPTION - The latest workers at the AA in Oldbury to complete the development programme with head of emergency breakdown call handling Kevin Horgan (back far right), Acua operations director Neil Withey (back second right), Acua business coach Ian Scholes (front right) and AA operations manager of service delivery Jalmia Begum (front second right) 

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The media release is issued by Advent Communications on behalf of Acua.

For media enquiries, contact Advent Communications on T: 024 7663 3636

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