Over the last two years in the wake of being awarded a ‘GOOD’ rating from Ofsted, City of Bristol College has been at the forefront of a relentless focus on cultural change and transformation as they “put people first” and drive for impactful change.
A large part of this successful evolution is due to the introduction of the Management Academy and Aspiring Leaders Skills Bootcamps provided by Partners in Bristol. The success of these initiatives, offered to both college staff and external employers, simply would not have been possible without crucial funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA).
The impressive statistics speak for themselves; City of Bristol College has seen a reduction in staff turnover from 23.35% for 2021/2022 to a forecast of 14.4% this year. In addition to this, the college has witnessed a 98% appraisal completion with a 4.58 point positive engagement out of 5 (compared to 54% the previous year).
Launched in January 2023, the Management Academy saw every college line manager at all levels of the organisation embark on their journey of crafting and nurturing their management skills.
With a resounding belief that “Your Line Manager has more impact on your mental health than your therapist,” the college’s HR team have spearheaded a programme that not only emphasises professional growth but also prioritises the well-being of individuals.
The college is committed to fostering a people-first focus through developing leaders and managers who play a pivotal role in shaping a positive work environment for all.
It’s clear to see the sheer impact that the Leadership & Management Skills Bootcamps have; one participant commented: “It was brilliant training. The trainer was great, the venue was fantastic. I liked the presentation task on the last day too. Overall, it was the best in-house training session I have ever attended. Thank you!”
Following the resounding success of the Management Academy, the college subsequently extended its reach to Aspiring Leaders; a programme introduced in January 2024 which mirrors the main Academy.
One aspiring leader remarked: “Overall fantastic opportunity which has allowed staff who are not able to receive this training a chance to develop further. Thank you for creating the time and stimulus for reflection and learning. It was much appreciated.”
Another colleague added: “I feel the results of myself and some of my managers having taken part in the course are already tangible in our small team. I, not only feel more capable, but I also feel more enfranchise and part of the bigger picture.”
The fundamentals of management and leadership training provides a foundational knowledge of management and leadership for anyone looking to progress into one of these types of roles. If your ambition is to develop your professional career into a managerial or leadership role, joining the City of Bristol College Management Academy training would be an ideal place to start.
The widespread success and subsequent positive shockwaves sent out by the Management Academy and Aspiring Leaders bootcamp is only possible due to the funding from MCA.
The impact of these initiatives has been transformative, fostering a more inclusive and engaging workplace culture while enhancing employee retention through a greater sense of belonging.
Hayley Shaw, Director of Human Resources & Organisational Development at City of Bristol College, commented: ” Leadership and management training is vitally important to building a people-first culture to ensure that everyone who leads and manages people is equipped with the skills, knowledge and behaviours to support and develop their team to deliver excellence. Providing Skills Bootcamp training in connection with Partners in Bristol has proved to be an excellent collaboration as feedback has been extremely positive and we have seen real impactful change here at the college”
Rob Hazelton, Managing Director of Partners in Bristol, commented: “I’m delighted that via the opportunities provided to employers such as City of Bristol College by Skills Bootcamps that Partners in Bristol has been able to devise bespoke, funded Leadership & Management training that focuses on the specialised training a business and its people need to make a tangible impact on the workforce.
It’s great to see that this has not only provided training for people but has also supported an important entity such as the college along its journey to success.”
For more information regarding Leadership & Management Skills Bootcamps please contact Partners in Bristol on 0117 312 5777 or Enquiries@PIB.cityofbristol.ac.uk
