Diploma launch is music to ears of eager store staff
HMV is launching a management diploma designed to promote the learning and development of HMV head office and store managers. A major HR initiative, the diploma has been developed in conjunction with the Ashridge Business School in a bid to improve the performance of HMV’s core teams. Thirty of the company’s top managers will be given places on the programme, and the course will count as a part-accreditation towards a full Ashridge management diploma. HMV HR director Liam Donnelly said: “This is a tough programme designed to stretch and grow a group of very capable and talented individuals. The HMV diploma represents a huge investment in our key people and ensures that we continue to grow and develop our future business leaders in an innovative and challenging way.”
Darts champions lend weight to numeracy campaign
The minister for skills and vocational education, Ivan Lewis, has visited the World Professional Darts Championships at Lakeside to promote adult numeracy learning with the British Darts Organisation (BDO). Seven million people describe themselves as regular darts players, but 14.9 million adults in England lack the numeracy skills expected of an 11-year-old. Lewis was promoting the Government’s Get On campaign for adult skills which offers training courses in maths, reading and language. So far three-quarters of a million adults have gained a first national certificate in literacy and numeracy under the scheme. The Get On campaign is part of the Skills for Life Strategy, which was launched by the Government in 2001. Professional darts player Andy ‘The Viking’ Fordham said: “Darts is the great leveller – there are fans from all walks of life who follow the game. But it does also reveal any problems that people might have with their sums.”
