Manchester Metropolitan University Business School has launched a new course specifically targeting managers facing or experiencing redundancy and it’s free for the over-50s.

Thousands of public and private sector workers have been made redundant in the North-West, including many highly-skilled individuals with invaluable technical expertise, management skills and years of leadership experience but no formal qualifications.

The Certificate in Professional Studies Management & Leadership at the Business School aims to improve the employability of those re-entering the jobs market and enable employers to retain experienced staff within their organisation by providing recognition for the knowledge gained by managers in the workplace.

The practically-focused course builds on existing business experience whilst updating working practices with the latest management techniques through a series of workshops and project-based assignments.  As this is a dual award, students on the programme also receive a Chartered Management Institute Diploma in Management and are able to apply for individual Chartered Manager status.

A successful pilot has recently been completed with staff from Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester Police and the NHS.  IT Project Manager David Taylor, 58, faces redundancy in October and was one of six from GMP to undertake the course.  He says:

“I’ve supported a number of colleagues through external management courses but was always deemed too senior to complete any myself and internal training wasn’t professionally graded.  The Management and Leadership programme was recommended to me and it’s proved invaluable.  I found the finance module very comprehensive and my new marketing skills will help tremendously, I’ve already been able to complete a skill-matching exercise with much more confidence.

“For me, the personal development module completely changed my outlook and approach to redundancy.  It taught me the importance of looking forward, even beyond employment to retirement, and I’m now exploring jobs that will give me a range of new skills.  Redundancy isn’t personal and people can either see themselves as a victim or take it as an opportunity to stop, look at what you really to do and change direction.”

Dick France, Finance tutor on the course, comments: “The Certificate in Professional Studies Management & Leadership is a great introduction for those without formal qualifications.  In addition to strengthening their position when applying for jobs, it also shows employers that they are actively improving their chances of getting another job.  We have an ageing population in Britain and it’s important both employers and employees take steps to prolong productive working life.”

The next course runs from September to December and participants will attend 13 study days.  Usually the course costs £1,850 but it is completely free for those aged 50 plus thanks to funding from the European Union.  There will be two further courses running in 2012.

There are no formal entry requirements for the programme but candidates must be over 25 years of age, have at least two year’s managerial experience and be able to demonstrate significant business-related experience.

For further information or to apply for the programme please go to www.business.mmu.ac.uk or call Jan Ivan-Duke on 0161 247 2326.