Timberland grows managers at Anglia Ruskin

Citation

(2011), "Timberland grows managers at Anglia Ruskin", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 43 No. 7. https://doi.org/10.1108/ict.2011.03743gaa.004

Timberland grows managers at Anglia Ruskin

Article Type: Notes and news From: Industrial and Commercial Training, Volume 43, Issue 7

Outdoor-clothing manufacturer and retailer Timberland has teamed up with Anglia Ruskin University’s Ashcroft International Business School to provide online training for staff.

Ten Timberland staff from across the UK began studying the FdA in management, which is a two-year work-based online-learning degree course. The degree is designed to equip managers and aspiring managers with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in today’s challenging climate.

Anglia Ruskin’s online virtual-learning environment (VLE) connects the retail-store staff without the need for them to leave their workplace. The program is both practical and work-based, allowing those taking part to transfer learning directly to their work environment. The course includes a range of applied-management topics such as marketing, leadership, change and project management.

Students have been assigned an online tutor for each module, with additional support from a dedicated distance-learning facilitator and a workplace mentor.

To help students to develop the skills required for higher education, each student will complete Anglia Ruskin’s work-based learning-study-skills curriculum. Assessment is carried out through a mixture of portfolio work, business reports, presentations, case studies and work-based projects.

Jane Maher, Timberland’s HR manager – UK retail and global distributors, said: “The majority taking part are team leaders or sales associates, who either volunteered for the course or were approached to take part. What struck me was how many of our staff were willing to invest time to develop their long-term career potential.”

Tony Howard, head of higher skills at work at Anglia Ruskin University, said: “We are delighted that Timberland has chosen our online work-based management degree to up-skill staff and provide retail-career progression opportunities. The nature and delivery of our work-based courses are proving especially attractive to our clients in the retail sector because, without leaving the shop floor, students and their employers are able to enjoy the benefits of tutor-supported learning, while developing their skills and abilities.”

Timberland joins such existing Anglia Ruskin clients as Volvo, Barclays, UPS, Ridgeons and Harrods.