Looking to the future

The appointment in September 2014 of a new CEO, Chris Wood, marks a subtle, but important, change in the company's direction - with a stronger focus on communicating, listening, and then taking action for clients.

 

There have already been a number of changes to Develop Training's structure in a bid to allow for better communication and contacts with clients. The company already provides training for clients such as National Grid, BT and Northumbrian Water, but a specialist team of business development managers has now been created to meet the needs of all of the firm's large and prestigious clients.

"We recognised a need to re-engage with our clients," explains Mark Dougall, Develop Training's Sales Director, "so we have put in place a team of some of the company's most talented and experienced managers. This is a significant change for Develop Training and I expect our clients to see a fundamental shift in our approach across the remainder of 2014 and well beyond."

Training, of course, relies on reliable and professional delivery and each area of Develop Training's course platform has a dedicated delivery manager.

"We have tried to simplify our overall offering as far as possible," says John Kerr, Develop Training's Operations Director. "Each of our core training areas - Water, Gas, Health & Safety, Electrical and Mechanical, Apprenticeships, and Management Development - is now under the control of a dedicated delivery manager, who is an expert in their chosen field. Most recently we've appointed a delivery manager for Smart Metering, an area in which we're experiencing significant demand and growth."

Much of Develop Training's is tailored directly to clients' individual needs, but the company will shortly also be publishing its Open Course timetable for 2015. This will include a revitalised Management Development programme, accredited through the Institute of Leadership and Management.

"This is an extraordinarily thrilling time for Develop Training," continues Chris Wood. "We have a new management structure, a revitalised course programme, and are also currently exploring a number of other exciting opportunities for long-term growth."