The skills gap in middle management has been a topic of discussion in the business world, with recent reports showing that only 37% of managers receive training after being promoted. Despite this, the role of middle managers remains crucial for business development. How can managers bridge the skills gap that is found in managerial positions? This article will provide a solution.
The role of middle management
Middle managers bridge the gap between strategy and operations. Their role helps to derive productivity and aligning teams to the greater organisational goals. Having effective management at this level will not only ensure that business goals are met but provide a crucial connection to the team members at an operational level, supporting staff retention and growth. Without effective management businesses risk communication breakdowns, high staff turnover, and difficulties in meeting objectives.
The benefits of ongoing staff development
Providing employees with Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is important at any level, whether its operational or managerial. Not only does it provide opportunities for developing your teams from within, but studies have shown that employee retention is improved when more development is provided.
For middle managers, CPD is key to help them develop effective management skills such as communication skills, decision-making and strategy agility. Additionally, once promoted many managers take on responsibilities that were not previously needed in their former role that require additional skills such as budgeting and financial forecasting and industry specific skills. By providing your managers with additional training you can ensure that your management team has all the skills they would need to be able to perform their job to the best of their ability and support their subordinates in their roles.
Funded management training
The solution is clear: provide more training for those promoted to management positions. However, many organisations shy away from providing this training due to the cost associated with the training and the time it may take.
An option that many organisations may not be aware of is utilising apprenticeships for this training. Apprenticeships are funded training programmes, the cost of which is covered largely or fully by the apprenticeship levy.
Utilising apprenticeships for upskilling existing team members to management positions could be the solution that many businesses are after. These programmes can be done alongside full-time work and organisations could benefit from other factors such as National Insurance exemptions for apprentices under the age of 25.
LMP Education’s Future Leaders programme
To help tackle the middle management skills gap award-winning training provider, LMP Education has launched the Future Leaders programme. This programme combines two levels of management training Level 3 Team Leader and Level 5 Operations Manager to offer a comprehensive training plan for organisations looking to upskill their middle management teams.
LMP Education can support businesses in setting out their training plans, customising the programmes for their unique needs and providing levy spending forecasting and strategy to ensure the organisation makes the most of their levy pot.
Learn more about the Future Leaders programme.
Case study: Atlas Hotels
Atlas Hotels has a portfolio of 60 hotels across Europe operating key hotel brands including Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn and Hampton by Hilton. Part of their purpose is to create a rewarding place to work, where employees feel valued and empowered.
Staff development and career progression is important across Atlas Hotel with apprenticeships and funded training key in their people strategy. Last year a large cohort of existing staff members from across Atlas Hotels embarked on the level 3 Team Leader programme through LMP Education.
Darren Cooper, Learning & Development Manager at Atlas Hotels, shared that “the introduction of apprenticeship programmes was highlighted as a positive in our recent eNPS survey, with several employees recognising their value—demonstrating a clear, tangible impact on engagement.”
If you are interested in using apprenticeships to develop your management teams, book a discovery call with LMP Education today!
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