EDUCATION
space or a coach to talk to, to not catastrophising issues and avoiding the all-too-common reaction of thinking of yourself as a failure when you’ve made a mistake. Fortunately, our area is rich in learning opportunities, whether generalist or specialist or linked to hard or soft skills. At Cambridge Network, learning development embraces a range of topics, formats and skills. Everything is bespoke, from topics to titles, with coaching and mentoring programmes often tailored to individual teams – a process that’s evolved as companies start to realise the benefits, says Cambridge Network’s Sarah. “The idea of a set programme with a number of people ticking boxes has very much gone away. They’re now aware that people need coaching and mentoring, and that the training needs to develop with the team.” Training sessions can take place over lunch, a half or a full day and are always followed by discussions with the trainers to agree actions that people can put into effect when they’re back in the office again. The range of topics is immensely varied, from basic software skills to identifying and supporting future leaders. “We’re asked every day for totally different things,” says Sarah. “It may be soft skills, assistance with communication, time management, assertiveness or dealing with difficult people. We also offer marketing and sales training – everything you can think of.” At Redgate, the emphasis is about letting people develop in the way they want to, stresses Matt Hilbert. “It's not about fitting a predetermined mould or trying to identify or pre-qualify those with leadership skills; it's about helping individuals mould their own future.”
People with the creative talent not just to understand technology but to take it to undreamed of places have to be encouraged"
Redgate helps the process by using skills maps and personal development plans. The company makes it easy for people to understand what each role requires and the additional skills they’ll need to move on to a different stage. “Everyone can choose their own career path and the personal development plan is the route map to gain the extra skills they’re looking for.” The company also ensures everyone gets the time and space to make it happen, from ‘10% time’ – typically an afternoon each week that’s set aside for developers to enhance their skills, to an annual ‘Down Tools Week’ when the workforce works on completely different projects. Then there’s the ‘Level Up Conference’ held each year at Duxford, which builds collaboration and cooperation. While opportunities to train and develop in our area are hugely impressive, Jane Paterson-Todd at Cambridge Ahead is on a mission to start the process far earlier on: in our local schools. Her goal, she says, is to help influence children and young people so they get the advice they need to make the right decisions about future careers and the skills and qualifications that will help get them there.
“Our work is to go back to the schools and see what we can do as an organisation to help influence a way for children and young people to get more and better career advice in schools. They need to understand the local economy, the level of qualifications that are required to take them on that path and that journey through to what will then end up being a job,” she says. Jane is keen to stress how important it is that children realise traditional, academically focused studies aren’t the only route to aspire to. “They need further education and they need apprenticeships, so we advocate that everything should be on the table and children should be encouraged to find their brilliance according to what is right for them.” Whether budding entrepreneurs, creative leaders or technical wizards, creative talent not just to understand technology but to take it to undreamed of places, have to be encouraged. “It’s about looking at how to re-educate people about what the world of work’s needs are as we get more technologically advanced,” Jane says. And if we don’t? “We’ll be left behind: things are moving so quickly.” training has an important role to play, she says. People with the
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