For more than a decade, the Learning Collaboration has provided shared services to members, giving high quality training at low cost.
"We deliver a diverse calendar of courses, based on the requirements of our members, but recently we have also been asked for more – in the way of understanding development needs and finding programmes to fit specific criteria," explains Ali Wilson, Head of Service Delivery.
"We have teamed up with Elspeth (Elpie) Bannister, formerly of ARM, where she carried out this function for many years, and she is now working with Cambridge Network to help smaller companies.
"With Elpie, we can offer a review of the skills, talent and capabilities required to achieve the strategic aims of member organisations.
"The new service is aimed at businesses typically with fewer than 50 employees, based on our experience of working with companies that have started small and scaled up. The Development Needs Analysis (DNA) service will help you to focus on the staff you have, looking to realise your business strategy while developing, motivating and retaining your current team."
The DNA aims to give business owners and managers a clearer understanding of their company’s Learning & Development position and an approach to allocating L&D budget to target the most critical areas of development. Future capability requirements will be explored by looking at three month and six to 12 month goals.
"Our experience shows that employees get more engaged and productive as you align development investment with your business aims," adds Ali.
The Development Needs Analysis process is simple:
- you complete a questionnaire to outline your organisational context, business strategy and current approach to Learning & Development
- the Learning Collaboration arranges a meeting for you with Elpie Bannister who will help you identify the skills, knowledge, capabilities and behaviours required to meet your priorities and achieve your strategy
- she will evaluate existing skills, knowledge, capabilities and behaviours at organisational, team and individual level and report back, reviewing suitable L&D options to close the gaps
- Cambridge Network's team will follow up in three months (and six, 12 months if desired) to check that L&D needs are being met.
Ali Wilson says: "We are offering this service at an introductory cost of £300 per company, having designed it to meet the needs of many of the members of Cambridge Network. Some companies may then wish to share development programmes so that we can maximise efficiency in getting Cambridge companies scaling up successfully, collaborating as ever for shared success.
"If you have any queries or are interested in scheduling some time to discuss this further then please contact me on ali.wilson@cambridgenetwork.co.uk"
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Elspeth (Elpie) Bannister (pictured) has direct experience of how competitive advantage can be gained through building resilience in a high‐engagement, high‐trust culture. Working to identify and achieve companies’ desired outcomes, Elpie designs and delivers meaningful solutions that align people with strategy to develop companies person by person. The result is change that has a positive, lasting impact.
Elpie has worked as a senior leader across hi‐tech, legal, telecoms and retail banking sectors for 20 years. While at ARM, she spent over 10 years enabling the company population to grow fivefold while maintaining its values‐driven culture.
With a BA in Human Resources, Chartered MCIPD qualification, a Diploma in Organisation Development and accreditation in a range of psychometric profiling tools, Elpie has expertise in Talent Management, Leadership Development, Learning and Development, Mergers and Acquisitions, Employee Engagement and Organisation Development. Elpie now trades as Boundless Solutions with Cambridge Network’s Learning Collaboration.
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