July Newsletter - Blue Lion Training Academy

Welfare Topics

What’s New

Tips & Tricks

Who’s Joined the Academy

Awards & Successes

Pathways Highlights

Don’t forget our Blue Lion pathways include Management, Marketing, and Media. This month we will focus on highlighting the management pathway.

Highlighting the Management Pathway

The Management and Administration pathway falls in the Business & Administration occupational map for apprenticeships. Within this pathway, we have 6 apprenticeships, which are:

These apprenticeships can be separated into 3 distinct levels of qualifications/occupations:

Technical Occupations, such as the Level 3 Team Leader/Supervisor and the Level 3 Improvement Technician. The role of these apprenticeships is to coordinate, manage, and deliver specific business processes and their direct provisions to users.
Higher Technical Occupations, like the Level 4 Associate Project Manager, the Level 4 Improvement Practitioner, and the Level 5 Improvement Specialist. These roles lead and manage a project (business/process improvement), business support services, and/or run a practice using the full range of business systems, procedures, and accounting practice. Apprentices within these occupations will learn/have the ability to set-up & develop a new business as well.
Professional Occupations, for example the Level 6 Improvement Leader. Typically, these roles are leaders of a business process and/or unit, requiring the ability to analyse and improve complex business-wide processes and risks. They also require the ability to provide a full range of company legal and financial knowledge relevant to running a company.

We have videos on our YouTube channel outlining and summarising some of the apprenticeships we offer, highlighting the roles & responsibilities, explaining some of the content involved, and how it can be applied to a role. The video above is for the Level 3 Improvement Technician, explained by our Continuous Improvement Tutor, Dave.

Who’s Joined The Academy

We would like to say ‘Welcome to the Academy’ to all our new learners from ALSTOM, INEOS, Project4 Learning, and Vacuum Engineering.

Our Level 4 Associate Project Manager, Level 4 Improvement Practitioner, and Level 3 Digital Marketer apprenticeships have all got some new apprentices on programme.

Welcome Barbs!

As the new Training Academy Manager, Barbs will be working very closely with the learners we have, ensuring they are on course to complete their apprenticeship, supporting them along the way. With 14 years’ of experience in the Teaching and Learning industry, starting of as a Tutor delivering Adult Skills Training, and over 10 years’ experience managing Adult Skills and Apprenticeship programmes, Barbs most definitely knows the tools of the trade.

Welcome to the team!

Thank You Max!

As of June 22nd, Max, a member of our Compliance & Governance team, has decided to part ways with Blue Lion Training Academy.

With Max’s departure, any learners/employers who need support, information, advice, and guidance should now contact barbs@bluelionta.com.

With Max leaving, the office will most definitely be a lot quieter, but we wish you all the best for the future, good luck Max!

Mark the date

A lot of progress has been made with the new recording studio which will support our Level 4 Assistant Recording Technician apprenticeship. On the 25^thAugust 2022, the studio will have its Grand Opening and will officially be available for apprentices and general public, and any keen apprentices looking to start the Level 4 Assistant Recording Technician apprenticeship!

So, get ready to book your place at our fully equipped studio! Keep an eye out on our socials for any future updates regarding the studio.

A massive congratulations to…

As new apprentices join, existing apprentices have recently come to the end of their apprenticeships, successfully completing their End-Point Assessment (EPA). So, congratulations to:

Liam Walker – CBRE
Sandra King – CBRE
Claire Cox – CBRE
Christophe Cox – ALSTOM
Emma Cowell – Prospere Learning Trust

Bud Tips & Tricks

Bud is an online learning platform that our learners use to progress through their apprenticeships. With that comes a lot of features that some users may not be aware of, so this section of the Newsletter should give you a few tips on how to utilise the software at it’s true capability.

Can’t find your due tasks? No problem. In the top right corner of the screen, next to your profile, you may see a ‘Lightning Bolt’ icon. This icon will redirect you to your priority task (e.g., an overdue task, a sign-off required etc.). So now you don’t need to worry about scanning through all those tasks.
Did you know there is a Knowledge Base in Bud? That’s right. Once again, in the top right corner of the screen you will see a Bud logo – this is the Knowledge Base. The Bud Knowledge Base is an integrated Tips & Tricks service for Bud. It could be you want to know how to upload a task: Type in a keyword, like ‘upload’, and you’ll find a full debrief, with screenshots, of the process. Simply search for a keyword, and you’ll find instructions dedicated to helping you complete your task. The Knowledge Base is available to all Learners and Employers, so why not give it a go next time you’re on Bud.

We recommend you always ensure your personal details, such as your home address are up to date in Bud. So, if any circumstances have changed since your onboarding and registration, we advise you contact us immediately. If your details are not accurate, contact lauren@bluelionta.com with your request, and she will be able to update your details accordingly.

Did you know you can view your personal details in Bud by clicking on ‘Application Summary’ found under the ‘Documents’ drop down.

To update your Mobile Phone Number, you can simply update this in your account by clicking on the ‘Edit’ button.

Keeping your details up to date ensures we can contact you regularly and that your certificates are sent to the correct address.

Tutor Feedback

Here at Blue Lion Training Academy, we value our apprentices’ opinions and reflection. Therefore, we have created an end of module survey which apprentices can fill out, giving feedback on the module and tutor

Blue Lion Training Academy regularly analyses the responses of the google form and make vital decisions to ensure the best possible learning for them.

Why not fill out the tutor feedback form now: https://forms.gle/A1JR9hPKDwcLjpZcA

Global Enterprise Agility Month

Before we start talking about how you can improve your organisation’s agility, we first need to understand what is meant by ‘enterprise agility’. Put simply, enterprise agility is an organisation’s ability to adapt to new environments and trends, being able to meet the demands from consumers, employers, and the market. For an organisation to be agile, they essentially need to be customer-oriented and support the needs of the customer. So, as your consumer evolves, your business evolves with them, keeping your organisation relevant and in the consumer’s mind.

So now that we know what ‘enterprise agility’ is, we can begin to look at how an organisation, of any size, can implement this into their ethos, processes, and ways of working.

Here at Blue Lion Training Academy, our services are primarily digital, being heavily reliant on internet access, due to the everlasting impact of COVID-19. But the pandemic is a great example of how an organisation can be agile. A lot of companies had to rethink their whole delivery process due to restrictions put in place, and even though these have been eased some organisations continue to implement their new processes due to their effectiveness and safety. At Blue Lion Training Academy, when COVID-19 struck, we acted quickly and converted our in-house training to online, investing our time and effort into creating online courses through bud.

On top of that, we also found an opportunity to adapt what we offer. As well as apprenticeships, we also specialise in delivering full cost courses, encouraging the use of continuous improvement and agile working. Being able to integrate new tools, techniques, and/or features is an agile technique that can help keep your organisation relevant, helping your business grow.

So, from what we’ve learnt, here a few tips to become a more agile business:

Have clear and targeted strategies

You can increase your company’s agility by constantly reviewing, and updating, your strategies. Having a live and up to date strategy means you can implement new trends, technologies, and resources into your tactics. More importantly, you can be up to date on customers wants and needs, a massive driving force in gaining business.

Form, and maintain, a strong team structure

Any agile business will comprise cross-functional and self-managing teams that are able to collaborate, providing maximum productivity whilst using fewer resources. Coordinate a strong team structure and lead them with a matching, strong leadership style. This can be implemented into any organisation, regardless of size. For an SME, you can create a collaborative team who are quick to mobilise and make important decisions as a team.

Your team/s should be able to coordinate a shared vision on tasks, strategizing how to deliver effectively, whilst also being able to collaboratively define working methods and accepting joint accountability for the end product.

Lead by example

As we’ve mentioned, it’s important to have an agile and flexible mindset embedded at every level of the enterprise and within every member of staff. However, one of the leading factors of establishing an agile enterprise is leadership style. Having strong leadership enables you to oversee cross-functional and self-sufficient teams, ensuring everybody is working to their best ability and capacity.

To be an agile leader, try focusing on building a collectively committed workforce who have the ability to perform and work together towards a common goal. Your role as a leader is not just governing your staff, but more about empowering and motivating them, supporting, and propelling them to work to their best ability and contribute towards meeting their team’s goal.

With these three steps, you could see your organisation become even more agile, resulting in a more positive workspace and therefore more operative team dedicated to achieving the best. SMEs are adapting these agile working techniques and processes to get more out of their business, which you can too. Keep an eye on our socials where we will be posting more content related to Global Enterprise Agility month, social media links at the top of the page.

24/7 Samaritans Awareness Day / The Big Listen 2022

Every year, on the 24th of July, Samaritans launch their ‘Big Listen’ awareness campaign across the UK and Republic of Ireland, holding local events up and down the country to raise awareness that Samaritans, and people, are here to listen to anyone who’s struggling to cope, at any time of day.

Samaritans are there to listen to anyone that’s needs it, 24/7, hence the event being held on the 24^th of July (24/07) every year. But it’s not just about Samaritans listening. The day is aimed at encouraging people to become better listeners and to support one another. Becoming a better listener can help you support your loved ones who may be struggling to cope, and can also help improve your relationships with friends, family, and colleagues. Listening is a great way to help someone open up, but it’s how you listen.

By making small changes to the way you listen, you could help your loved ones feel more comfortable and willing to open up about how they’re feeling. You could try:

Listening without being distracted
Listening with interrupting
Check in with those close to you more often, asking them how they really are

Or you could make your own personal pledges.

To help you with these pledges here are some tips and tricks that you can try to help you become a better listener:

To avoid being distracted, try putting your phone away and focusing your attention on the person talking.
Try facing the person opening up and try making eye contact.
If you’re talking to someone on the phone, try doing it in a quiet place so that you can hear and understand what the other person is saying. Also, avoid having things in the background distracting you, like your TV.

By being less distracted and more focused on the other person, it reassures them that you aren’t just listening but you’re paying attention and you care, which can also be done by repeating back what the other person says. These small steps can make a massive difference to someone struggling to open up and could help them overcome a different period in their life.

By letting them speak and get things off their chest, a massive weight could be lifted. You don’t need to jump in and fill a silence. Try to remember that it’s about them opening up in their own time, pauses and silences are fine. Let the other person speak and try to resist putting your own interpretation on what they’re saying.

The last few years have had a large impact on everyone’s lives, and anyone could need someone to listen to them, even those around you. Try to check in with loved ones regularly. You could try adding reminders to your calendar or phone, once or twice a week, to check in with loved ones. It may take a few tries to get someone to open up so don’t give up. By putting effort in, the other person will notice your efforts and could eventually open up. But, respect boundaries and limits, some people may take longer, to open up, than others.

You can always talk to someone about anything that’s troubling you, we’re all here to listen to one another. Click here to be redirected to the Samaritans website, or call them for free on 116123.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Some of you may have completed the Welfare Module in bud on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I). For those of you who have not completed the task, here is a brief video showing the importance ED&I in the workplace, and what it can be like when ED&I is not integrated.

Student voice is encouraged at Blue Lion Training Academy

We encourage all students to give feedback on all aspects of study life or other life events
Everyone’s opinion counts
Learning how to discuss views with ‘Respect’ is key
We have a diverse culture around the academy which makes it a beautiful place to be in
Our team and students come from different ethnicities and speak different languages
We come together to be a tolerant and kind community that share the same core British values

At Blue Lion Training Academy, we are here to support you. Should you need to talk to someone, you can contact your Tutor, or any of the Blue Lion Training Academy team.

Call us on 01332 738625

Eid Al-Adha 2022

This weekend (from July 9 to July 11) Muslims across the world will be celebrating the second annual Eid, Eid Al-Adha.

Eid Al-Adha is one of the largest events in the Muslim calendar, falling on the tenth day of the final (twelfth) month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar; Dhu’l-Hijjah. The day follows the completion of the annual holy pilgrimage of Hajj, an obligation for all Muslims who fit specific criteria and one of the 5 Pillars of Islam.

The celebration commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s (pbuh) devotion to Allah SWT and his willingness and commitment to obey his Lord’s command.

On Eid Al-Adha, Muslims will start the first day by attending their local Masjid (mosque) to pray Salat al-Eid (Eid Prayer). Once this is done, Muslims would slaughter a sheep, cow, or camel in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s (as) sacrifice for Allah SWT, with the animal being slaughtered in a slaughterhouse in the UK. The meat is split into 3 equal shares with one being kept by the family, one going to friends and relatives, and the last being given to those in need.

The day is traditionally spent with family, friends, and loved ones with Muslims wearing their best, or new, attire.

So from all of us here at Blue Lion, we wish everyone celebrating a Happy Eid!