A unique approach to further education and training has led to Legal & General Investment Management starting to reap the rewards from investing in its current management team.

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Through close collaboration with TSW Training, the Cardiff-based investment arm of the Legal & General Group has tailored an Apprenticeship programme that has developed the leadership skills of 18 of its managers.

Now the company has been shortlisted for this year’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru. The company will be competing to become Large Employer of the Year at the prestigious awards ceremony at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport on November 9.

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The annual awards are designed to showcase and celebrate the outstanding achievements of learners, employers, tutors and assessors who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Welsh Government’s Traineeships and Apprenticeship Programmes.

Jointly organised by the Welsh Government and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW), the coveted awards are supported by media partner, Media Wales. The Apprenticeship Programme is funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.

Thirty star employers, learners and learning providers from across Wales have been shortlisted for the Apprenticeship Awards Cymru.

By offering Level 4 and 5 Higher Apprenticeships in Leadership and Management, the work-based nature of the programme combines the organisational-specific, sector regulations with their own internal training requirements to produce a qualification that is meaningful to the business.

“This isn’t a ‘chalk and talk’ approach, it is about real-world solutions and work-based projects that have had a real impact on the day-to-day running of the business,” said Sarah Evans, Legal & General Investment Management’s people development manager.

The company attributes a large part of the programme’s success to training up two of its own members of staff, one of whom is a Welsh speaker, to become assessors by achieving the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement.

“We know our staff, their working hours and preferences and their roles within Legal & General,” added Sarah. “This has allowed us to provide support tailored to the learner’s needs and the business requirements and obligations.”

The outcomes of the programme have encouraged Legal & General Investment Management to expand its learning opportunities to the wider team and 2018 will see the company implement Apprenticeship programmes for Leadership & Management Level 3, Learning & Development, Information, Advice and Guidance and Business Improvement Techniques. These programmes have also been developed alongside Bridgend-based TSW Training.

“The collaborative nature of the Legal & General team and TSW demonstrates the willingness to embrace new ways of learning within the organisation and it is a contributing factor in the success that the programme has seen,” said Crispin Seabrook, route manager at TSW Training.

Congratulating Legal & General Investment Management on being shortlisted for an award, Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning, Eluned Morgan said: “Apprenticeship Awards Cymru showcase the success of the Welsh Government’s Apprenticeships and Traineeships Programmes and the achievements of our star apprentices, employers, learning providers and trainees.

“Apprenticeships are a great way for individuals to gain valuable skills and experience while earning a wage and for employers to ensure their workforce has the skills to future proof a business.

“Increasing higher level skills and developing skills pathways that benefit the whole of Wales have never been more important.”