Shared Vision: Training & Career Development in the East Midlands

Training & Career Development in the East Midlands

The Current Job Market and Employment Opportunities in the East Midlands

The East Midlands is the fourth largest region in the United Kingdom, as its boundaries encircle important cities like Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Northampton, and Loughborough. The region benefits from excellent road, air, and rail connections with other major British and European cities, a fact that is significant for the local job market, which has a large number of jobs in the logistics industry. The East Midlands airport alone provides more than 9,000 full-time jobs.

In the past, the East Midlands region was known for its important manufacturing and industrial sectors. Nowadays, manufacturing is still a key contributor to the local economy and to the job market, as it is estimated that in January 2012, 16 per cent of the total economic output in the region was generated by the manufacturing industry. By 2020, over £5 million will have been invested in the region to further develop this sector. In this field, the major employers are Rolls Royce, Mercedes Benz, Siemens Turbomachinery, Toyota, Caterpillar, British Plasterboard, Vaillant UK, and many other leading firms in the areas of automotive, aerospace, and industrial manufacturing.

Other key industries in the region are services, education, health care, retail, and finance, with the main employers being local universities, Nationwide, Capital One, Experian, 3M, Boots, and Specsavers. The most recent statistics show that the average unemployment rate in the East Midlands is 3.6 per cent, although some urban centres like Leicester and Nottingham have higher rates.

Professional career development in the East Midlands

Students who are considering training in the areas of business or management have several options to choose from in the East Midlands. The East Midlands School of Business and Management is located in Leicester and offers training at certificate, diploma, and postgraduate level. Nottingham University has a Business School that has links with several renowned companies in the UK and abroad. The School also has a strong research tradition, which results in regular events that discuss the topics of managerial dynamics, corporate investment, entrepreneurial development, marketing, and innovation.

Nottingham University Business School can also assist businesses and organisations with their training needs, as the school runs a number of executive education programmes on leadership, responsible business, risk management, and coaching and mentoring in the workplace. These programmes can also be customised according to the particular needs of the company that requires them. Additional business training is available from the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, which runs courses on team leading, business finance, risk assessment, e-marketing, project management, and many others.

There is no lack of business networking opportunities in the region. The East Midlands Business Network organises monthly business lunches in Nottingham and Trent. The East Midlands Chamber of Commerce also runs regular networking events across Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, and Leicestershire. In addition, the Chamber has implemented its Graduatefusion programme, which serves as the meeting point of graduates and businesses.

Workplace skills training and workforce development courses can be obtained from each of the five local Chambers of Commerce in the East Midlands. Government funded training schemes are available in the form of modern apprenticeships in business, IT, finance, manufacturing, logistics, and retail, among others.

Lastly, business and individuals interested in leadership training can take advantage of the courses offered by reputable local consultancies, such as Summit Training or Right Track Consultants. The East Midlands Leadership Academy runs specialist courses in operational leadership, executive coaching, and talent management, specifically designed for those who work in the health care sector.

Further Considerations: Although not all positions require you to be able to drive, having a drivers license is an advantage, especially if you have no points taken off. If you have undergone advanced driver training that is an even greater advantage. Even if the location you would like to work at is near public transport there may be times when travel to less easily accessible locations is required such as visiting potential clients or company meetings. Being able to drive improves your prospects and makes you more versatile than a candidate who doesn't drive. More information on learning to drive and advanced driving lessons can be found on this site.

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