Park’s of Hamilton has completed a new ‘train the trainer’ programme designed by skills development and technical vocational education and training specialist People 1st International which provides attendees with a Professional Certificate in Training Design and Delivery. The participants, who included the firm’s assistant operations manager, depot trainers, driving instructors, and compliance and traffic officers, were presented with their certificates last month.
The programme was delivered by Rose Reid Training, with principal trainer Margaret Rose Reid assisted by associate trainer Tim Ripper, both of whom have over 10 years experience as approved People 1st International trainers.
Margaret commented: “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to guide the participants to grow in confidence and competence, whilst having fun using a structured and highly interactive approach. With a focus on practising new skills during the programme, along with constructive feedback, this enabled them to use what they learned to good effect straight away.”
Adopting a blended learning approach, participants attended a virtual classroom online, as well as in-person practical sessions and assessments at Park’s depots in Blantyre and Plymouth. The course is designed to equip learners with transferable skills to design, deliver and evaluate training on any topic.
William Dunsmore, Assistant Operations Manager at the operator’s Blantyre depot, said: “The course was very enjoyable, informative and fun. It allows us to update current training skills and train new trainers to deliver in-house CPC training for drivers.”
With current shortages of coach drivers, Park’s says it has been experiencing an increased workload, and has vacancies for coach drivers, who will all require training, as well as ongoing refresher and CPC training for existing drivers. The recognised ‘train the trainer’ certificates gives the firm the ability to design, develop, deliver and evaluate training sessions aimed at groups and individuals to a professional standard.
Some attendees said they also found the course helpful in more unexpected ways: Steve Brocklehurst at the firm’s Plymouth base, and who has a background in training himself, said: “The course has really helped with future training and I also find that it helps on the coaches when we are evaluating customer feedback.”
Colleague Robert McCutcheon at Blantyre added: “The course was well planned and delivered which made it more interesting. It has taught me about better preparation and given me the confidence to design and deliver training using a more logical, interactive approach which ultimately benefits my trainees.”
The training programme lasts five days, with a shorter two-day option also available.