Lyall, who completed the course on 3 September, is the first of 200 students involved from across 70 companies to do so. He has now achieved The Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 5 Diplomas in Management (NVQ) and Principles of Leadership & Management (VRQ). The ILM qualification is nationally recognised and equivalent to foundation degree level.
The BPIF scheme was launched in April 2013 and funded through a £1.1m funding package from the government’s Employer Ownership Programme. It is aimed at key personnel in the print and media industry who are committed to developing their skills and knowledge across all aspects of management.
Learners were given a maximum period of two years to complete the programme through a combination of workshop events, home and work-based projects. Lyall has already completed the five mandatory assignments that all graduates had to undertake to complete the programme.
These included ‘Understanding the management role to improve management performance’, ‘Managing improvement’, ‘Making a financial case’, ‘Developing critical thinking’ and ‘Leading innovation and change’.
He also completed three further modules: ‘Developing and leading teams to achieve organisational goals and objectives’, ‘Becoming an effective leader’ and ‘Applying lean production and improvement methodologies to operational problems in service delivery’.
Lyall said: “I have very much enjoyed being part of the BPIF programme. I have learned a great deal and am applying the learnings in my day-to-day role.
“It has been difficult to fit the assignments in around what for everybody is a really busy schedule in this fantastic industry. However, sometimes you have to go the extra mile to succeed, a philosophy that is common among GI Solutions’ staff.
“I am delighted to have completed the course and I am very grateful to GI Solutions for its commitment and to the great team at the BPIF.”
Kay Smith, training and development director at BPIF Training, said: "I am delighted that Darren has become the very first to graduate. He has worked steadily and consistently over the past 18 months and he deserves his qualification. His success will inspire our other learners to complete successfully."
GI Solutions has committed 16 staff in total to the overall programme, which includes levels 2, 3 and 5.
Operations director Ifor Pedley said: “The GMP and other NVQs have added a lot of value to the business by broadening the candidates’ management experience and increasing their confidence to tackle issues using the tools they have learned.
“All of our other staff on the programme are nearly there or are on their way there to varying degrees. It's motivational as well as educational and because we've had quite a few people on the programme, they help each other out and it's made them work as a team more.
“The BPIF has really delivered something meaningful for the printing industry and that should be applauded.”
