Pictured above: Left to right, Geoff Guerin, Melanie White
and Sunita Mistry with Michael Chapman, BHSF HR & Quality
Management Director
A small Midlands company is determined to battle through the
recession by bucking the traditional trend and investing in the
development of its staff.
Aware that many companies cut back on staff training during
economic downturns, Birmingham-based nationwide healthcare insurer
BHSF has taken the opposite view and put its faith in three young
professionals who started with the organisation on its graduate
development programme.
Sunita Mistry, lead quality auditor, has been with the company
for five years and is studying for a Diploma in Quality Management
with the Chartered Quality Institute to further her career which
already includes training internal auditors providing them with
ongoing support, coaching and advice.
Mel White, human resources officer, has been with the company
since 2005 and is taking a two-year MSc course in HR management and
business at Aston University.
Mel regards the qualification as an important part of her
professional development having recently been appointed to her
role.
Geoff Guerin, business improvement officer, has been with BHSF
for three years and will be studying for an MBA at Aston
University, a course which is accredited by the three international
management education bodies.
He feels that success in the course would provide a platform to
upper management as well as equip him with a greater skills base
and so that he's of greater use to the company.
BHSF views the development and training of the staff as all
important and 33 other members of the 140 staff are currently
involved in NVQ courses at various levels.
The company sees training not only as an ongoing advantage to
its day-to-day operations but as giving it the edge over
competitors when the recession evolves into an economic upturn.
Mike Chapman, HR & Quality Management Director, said: "We
know only too well that in many companies the first cost centre to
be cut in a recession is the training and development budget.
"Even though we are a relatively small company, we've taken a
long-term view. When the UK comes out of recession it is going to
be short of skills at the sharp end which will slow down
development. We do not want to be in that position.
"The company is heavily investing in the training and the skills
development of its staff and Sunita, Mel and Geoff are good
examples of the way in which we are determined to be prepared for
the economic turnaround and the long-term future".
There are 250 places on the West Midland Graduate Internship
Scheme which SMEs in the region can take up.
The scheme enables employers to use graduate talents to work on
projects during a period of economic downturn and helps the
graduates get experience in finding a job.
There are no wage costs to the employer and internships can last
from four to six weeks.