UWS has helped over 500 people pick up new skills and improve their career prospects in the past year, through its Centre for Continuing Professional Development (CPD). 

The figure highlights UWS’s commitment in helping both employers and individuals deal with the demands of the constantly changing world of work. 

Most participants are already in work, but want to reskill, upskill or improve their chances of career progression. UWS offers a wide-ranging portfolio of courses across the UK and internationally – from business leadership and digital marketing to environmental sustainability – all designed in line with industry priorities to help future-proof the workforce. 

Among those who benefitted was Brian Auld, Interim Director of People, Safety and Governance at Scottish Canals, who recently completed The Strategic Manager course. 

 

The CPD programme at UWS gave me fresh insights and practical tools that I’ve been able to apply immediately in my role. It provided the perfect balance of academic input and real-world relevance, which has been invaluable for my own professional development and for the wider organisation.

Brian Auld, Interim Director of People, Safety and Governance at Scottish Canals

 

The past year also saw the launch of Skills Scholarships – a new UWS initiative giving eligible learners the chance to get started with a free CPD module. 

Suzanne McQuade, Senior CPD Manager at UWS, said: “We’re really proud of the impact our CPD programmes are having on learners and employers. We keep flexibility and collaboration at the heart of what we do, so the courses actually deliver something practical and useful.  

 “Helping more than 500 learners this year shows that our approach works, and we’re keen to build on that in the years ahead.” 

Over the last academic year, UWS has also worked with local small and medium-sized firms through the UK Government’s Help to Grow: Management scheme, helped deliver mental health and wellbeing training for staff in the public sector, and seen its Institute for Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP) approved Environmental Clerk of Works course grow in popularity with participants from across the UK – all part of efforts to boost skills and help organisations meet net-zero targets. 

 

At UWS we’re committed to helping people and organisations thrive in a world that’s constantly changing. The success of our CPD programme shows the value of lifelong learning. By aligning what we do with the UN Sustainable Development Goals we are ensuring our work makes a positive, real-world impact, while supporting growth, wellbeing and sustainability.

Professor James Miller, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS, said:

 

This work is aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals; UNSDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, UNSDG 4: Quality Education, UNSDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, UNSDG 13: Climate Action, UNSDG 15: Life on Land.