Centre News - January 2009

£350m available for ILM qualifications

The Government is focusing £350m of its Train to Gain funding on SMEs – what it calls ‘SME Flexibilities’. Listed below are the ILM units and Awards which qualify for this funding from 2 January 2009 – this is confirmed on the Learning Aims Database.

We expect to have further good news regarding the availability of funding for the ILM Level 2 Certificate in Team Leading. This qualification meets the revised definition of a ‘Full Level 2’ qualification (minimum 13 QCF credits) and is currently going through the formal approval process to become a Train to Gain programme.

Type*	Unit No.	Unit Title	Credit Value	Level	Band	SLN value **	Prog. weight^	Funding Rate '08/09 (£)
Unit	F5013821	Working with costs and budgets	1	3	1	0.028	1	80
Unit	K5013795	Solving Problems and Making Decisions	2	3	1	0.028	1	80
Unit	K5013800	Managing Creativity and Innovation in the Workplace	1	3	1	0.028	1	80
Unit	J5013805	Building the Team	1	3	1	0.028	1	80
Unit	F5013804	Introduction to Leadership	2	3	1	0.028	1	80
Unit	R5013855	Leading a Team Effectively	2	3	1	0.028	1	80
Unit	T5013282	Understanding the Management Role	4	4	2	0.054	1	154
Unit	L5013286	Developing Management Skills	4	4	2	0.054	1	154
Thin qual	500/3588/5	Award in Team Leading	3	2	2	0.054	1	154
Thin qual	500/3736/5	Award in Introduction to Business Improvement	8	2	3	0.079	1.5	339
Thin qual	500/3586/1	Award in First Line Management	5	3	4	0.101	1	289
Thin qual	500/3582/4	Award in Leadership	4	3	2	0.054	1	154
Thin qual	500/3598/8	Award in Leadership and Management Skills	6	3	3	0.079	1	226
Thin qual	500/3563/0	Award in Workplace Coaching for Team Leaders and First Line Managers	8	3	2	0.054	1	154
Thin qual	500/3583/6	Award in Leadership	10	4	3	0.079	1	226
Thin qual	500/3599/X	Award in Management	8	4	3	0.079	1	226

* The Learning Skills Councils terms Awards ‘thin qualifications’
**Standard Learner Number (SLN) is the guided learning hours (glh) per unit or qualification divided by 480 (which is the nominal time for a full-time student).
^ The programme weighting reflects the extra costs of some types of programme, here Business Improvement is given an engineering weighting rather than management weighting as units come from engineering.

New Enterprise NVQ

The new ILM Level 3 S/NVQ in Starting a New Business Enterprise will be available from March 2009. This is replacing the ILM Level 3 NVQ in Business Start Up which expired on 31 December 2008. We will be writing to all centres affected by the change to explain the new qualification in detail.

Last call for your top learners

The ILM Learner of the Year Award 2009 celebrates outstanding individuals who have excelled in their chosen ILM qualification, overcome adversity, or achieved success for their organisation as a result of taking an ILM programme. If you have worked with a learner who has made a difference to their team, organisation or community through their studies this is your opportunity to nominate them for recognition. The closing date for nominations for the ILM Learner of the Year Award is 31 January. Download an entry form and see your top learner rewarded.

ILM internal auditing

To uphold the status of ILM as an awarding body we must carry out regular audits on our own systems and procedures – to ensure we meet the appropriate standards. These audits are conducted throughout the entire business by our Quality Audit Team, consisting of a Head of Quality and Administration, a Quality and Audit Compliance Manager and Co-ordinator and six Quality Audit Officers (QAOs). As part of these audits the team visit centres every quarter, selected on a random basis. The audits are not part of the ILM approval process but rather are a check to ensure that ILM’s systems and procedures are working well.

If you are contacted to take part in one of these audits we are very grateful for your support. Below is an outline of what you can expect to happen but please contact Geoff Atkins in the Quality Audit Team for further information at geoff.atkins@i-l-m.com

1. The Quality Audit Team contacts the centre direct (they do not contact the centre’s ILM Quality Manager, Quality Consultant, Business Manager or External Verifier – it is completely without prior warning)
2. A mutually convenient date is booked for the audit. At this stage the Quality Audit Officer will not look at any of the centre files held at ILM or by any ILM personnel
3. The visit takes place and the centre files held at ILM are consulted afterwards, remember the QAO is only looking at ILM systems and procedures
4. An audit report is sent to the Quality Manager, Business Manager and External Verifier
5. The External Verifier will give the centre feedback at their next visit

University entry

We are often asked about progression opportunities for ILM qualifications and are pleased to announce that successful completion of our Level 7 qualifications in Leadership and Management will now give learners direct entry on to the following University of Portsmouth Masters programmes with full credit transfer, giving advance standing, based on certain prescribed option choices, allowing exemption from equivalent Modules. The table below shows which qualifications it is possible to progress to, and the credit values of the qualifations:

*Three years of management experience is also required for entry on to this programme

Please visit www.port.ac.uk/leadership for further information about the MSc Leadership and Management programme at the University of Portsmouth Business School.

Introduce ILM in style

We’ve produced a short PowerPoint presentation for centres to use when introducing ILM to new businesses. The 14 slides cover key information on ILM qualifications and membership, showing individuals and employers how they can benefit from choosing ILM for their leadership and management development. Download the presentation.

Your ILM contacts

Make sure you reach the right person every time. Download the ILM contact sheet

Events

Seminars

These inspirational seminars are designed to provide tutors, trainers and managers with the key skills to make a real difference in their organisation. Read more >

Tutor development

New for 2009, these development days are carefully designed to provide tailored support and develop for tutors and development professionals. Read more >

Centre support

These popular events provide support on every aspect of ILM for centre staff. Read more >

Employer skills conference

‘Developing Skills for a Brighter Future’ is a free conference hosted by ILM and City & Guilds at the Lords Cricket Ground, London, on 24 February 2009.

This inspirational event is aimed at Directors, Heads of HR and Chief Executives. The day will celebrate and promote all aspects of work-based learning, including the importance of apprenticeships. Hear from:
• Karren Brady, Managing Director, Birmingham City Football Club
• David Hughes, Learning Skills Council
• Rhys Madoc, Senior Relationship Manager, London Brokerage Consortium
• Sue Hill, Director of Sales and Customer Relations, City & Guilds
• Keith Faulkner, London Chamber of Commerce

In today’s tough economic climate delegates will learn why senior managers are increasingly turning to training to protect their businesses against the impact of the downturn. ILM and City & Guilds believe that investment in strong leadership and management and developing highly motivated employees through training will ultimately improve an organisation’s profitability, efficiency and bottom line.

To find out more email londonemployersevent@cityandguilds.com or call 020 7294 8139