Nottingham Business School Takes the Lead

A blended–learning course delivered by Epic Group plc has become a core part of the first accredited leadership degree course in the UK.

‘Take the Lead’, originally designed as a learning portal for staff of Barclays Bank plc for all potential leaders within the 70,000-strong workforce, will offer students a host of leadership resources including some 22 hours of e-learning.

Nottingham Business School were so impressed with the online content that they have taken the material as it stands and combined it with their own face-to-face sessions to offer an initial cohort of 65 Barclays staff, located as far afield as Barbados and Ghana, the chance to graduate in three to four years, with a unique BA Hons Degree in Leadership.

The official signing of the deal, between Barclays and the Nottingham Business School took place on June 9th 2005 and is expected to pave the way for further leadership courses throughout the country. The degree course aims to integrate hard skills such as commercial awareness with soft ones such as interpersonal skills and is open to any member of staff who meets the entry criteria.

Epic designed the online part of the course in response to a need to change the learning habits of the management workforce. Prior to 2002, when ‘Take the Lead’ was first launched, there were 26 training institutions and 90 leadership programmes across Barclays. New CEO, Matthew Barrett, wanted to streamline the learning while promoting a shift towards learner-centric study. ‘Take the Lead’ encourages flexibility and prompts students to take responsibility for their own learning.

John Rogers, Head of Barclays University Business School said, “What we have been doing is trying to explode this idea of what learning is about…We want to develop a grown up relationship and create an environment of support…Through this partnership with Nottingham Business School we can now offer qualifications that recognise the skills that our staff are developing.”

The online material, available through the ‘Take the Lead’ portal, ranges from 30 minute learning modules to 2 minute nudges designed for just-in-time learning as well as theory papers and self diagnostics. There are also discussion boards, case studies drawing on the experience of high profile leaders such as Sven Goran Eriksson and a range of functionality for collaborative learning. Students are not spoon-fed – they have to search out the most appropriate and relevant learning material.

The course offers students the flexibility to study for a certificate, diploma or the full degree. Part of the course is a work-related project where learners must put their new-found knowledge into practice.

The accreditation of this course is evidence of Epic’s strength in the development of leadership programmes and cements the good relationship with Barclays.

Epic Account Manager for Barclays, Ian Farringdon, said “This is a great example of a truly blended approach to learning…the outlook of the learners has clearly been taken into account as it is flexible and adaptable…it means that the learner can help to drive their own learning with the help of the huge online resource, and it is the first time that such a wealth of material has been put together for a course in this subject area.”