QA-Socitm leadership programme endorsed by Welsh government

Future public sector leaders in Wales are being offered the chance to develop leadership and management skills on a highly successful training programme.

Socitm, the professional association for digital leaders in local public services, is extending its Top Talent programme to Wales from 2019.

Open to public sector professionals, with Socitm members given priority, the inspiring programme equips leaders to effect positive change in their organisations and beyond.

Delivered by QA, the leader in IT and business skills training, in conjunction with the Welsh Government, the four-day programme runs from February with a graduation ceremony at Socitm's President's Conference in June.

Participants benefit from leadership workshops, mentoring sessions with a professional coach, and an online community with support from Top Talent graduates.

The programme is free to Socitm corporate members, although organisations are expected to cover travel and subsistence costs.

Commenting on the new programme in Wales, Nadira Hussain, director of leadership development and research at Socitm, said:

"Top Talent goes from strength to strength every year and I am delighted that we are working in partnership with the Welsh Government and QA to help foster and support the next generation of fantastic leaders in digital transformation. It's an excellent opportunity for professionals across the public sector in Wales to develop their leadership skills and to network with peers across the UK."

Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services in Wales, Alun Davies, said:

"We are pleased to be working with Socitm and QA to support this exciting new leadership programme. Our public service workforce are our most valuable resource and we hope that by developing their digital skills further we can help individuals to fulfil their potential and organisations to be more successful."

Adam Stewart, QA's Head of Business Skills, commented:

"My focus is on the continued development of the professional communities that we support. QA have an outstanding team of learning professionals, committed to helping people in developing their potential and confidence through a variety of learning interventions and programmes – and we look forward to working with the Welsh Government and Socitm on the Top Talent programme."

Registrations for Top Talent Wales and other Socitm Leadership Academy courses open on 1 November 2018. To find out more about the range of services the Leadership Academy offers, or to register interest, visit www.lead.socitm.net.

About the Socitm Leadership Academy

The programmes available in 2019 are:

• Top Talent – instils self-awareness, confidence, and management skills, as well as helping to bring clarity on career progression
• Empowering Women in a Digital World (EWDW) – focuses on self-awareness, beliefs, values and behaviours, where they come from and how they impact on career and life decisions
• Senior Leaders – a new programme providing the practical tools and techniques to help drive the cultural change needed to enable the best business-focused outcomes

About QA

QA is one of the largest learning services organisations in the UK, developing skills and capabilities for everyone from apprentices to business leaders. With learning centres throughout the UK, QA delivers an exceptionally broad training curriculum to meet the needs of individuals and corporate businesses.

With a client base covering 80% of the FTSE 250, and employing over 300 instructors, subject matter experts and learning professionals across a portfolio of 1,500 courses, QA is currently the number one provider of technical and business training in the UK. More information is available at www.qa.com.