Pictured: front left, Neil Withey, operations director at
Acua, and, front right, Coventry University Vice-Chancellor
Professor Madeleine Atkins, with the rising stars from the AA and
Caterpillar with their foundation degree certificates
The first students to complete a work-based university degree
with leading business development organisation Acua have
graduated.
Fifteen rising stars from the AA, the UK's largest motoring
organisation, and world-leading engine manufacturer Caterpillar
have been recognised as the inaugural graduates of the foundation
degree in leadership capability, delivered by Acua and accredited
by its partner Coventry University.
They were congratulated and presented with their degree
certificates by Coventry University Vice-Chancellor Professor
Madeleine Atkins and Neil Withey, operations director at Acua, at
an awards ceremony.
Nine employees from Caterpillar's facilities at Wolverhampton
and Shrewsbury graduated, including brothers John and Graham
Russell, and their brother-in-law Mark Stanforth, who have all
gained promotions whilst studying towards their degrees.
John Russell, who is based at Caterpillar in Wolverhampton,
said: "I was a section manager and I'm now a group manager and
believe the degree has helped to get me where I am today."
Six employees from the AA's breakdown centre in Oldbury achieved
the degree.
Janet Craig, Management Development Manager at the AA, said:
"This is a fantastic achievement for all of our participants who
have worked exceptionally hard, whilst holding down very demanding
day-jobs. It's a win-win for us; both the individuals and the
business will reap the benefits for many years to come."
Matthew Spencer, resourcing and performance manager at the AA in
Oldbury, said: "It has been an incredible journey and one of the
best things for me is that it has given me the voice to approach
things differently for the benefit of myself and the business."
The AA and Caterpillar were the first companies to work with
Acua after the organisation was established by Coventry University
in 2008 to help bridge the skills gap in the UK.
Professor Atkins said the foundation degree success highlighted
the greater role that she believes work-based learning will play in
helping businesses to drive growth and improve performance,
especially during the economic downturn.
She said: "We are committed, particularly through Acua, to
supporting the innovation and the growth ambitions of the companies
that we work with.
"We have had to understand the gap in skills, knowledge and
capabilities that our commercial partners wanted our help to fill
and we are delighted to have been able to work with the AA and
Caterpillar to pilot this degree."
Acua has worked with 90 bluechip organisations since being
established and is currently delivering the foundation degree at
TNT, Busy Bees and Elliott Group.
Neil Withey said: "In the short history of Acua, we have
developed and delivered a solution with the AA and Caterpillar
which has educated their employees and helped to bring about change
in their business.
"The awards ceremony is a pivotal moment in an on-going journey
for the graduates, for their organisations and for Acua as we look
to develop the qualifications we offer for the next generation of
business leaders."
Acua business coach Ian Scholes, who delivered the foundation
degree, said the learning had helped many of the graduates manage
global projects and identify savings as well as secure
promotions.
He said: "Each student's learning objectives have been met and
in some cases exceeded and they all deserve the recognition that
has culminated with them being awarded their degrees."