Frequently Asked Questions
Can Sunley design industry specific courses?
Yes, all of our programmes, both accredited and non-accredited, can be designed specifically to meet the needs of the client. This means we work with a client to ensure we fully understand the industry/environment they operate in. Only when we have a deep understanding of the needs of the client do we devise learning objectives and design learning material and delivery methods — and while we are doing this we remain in constant discussion with managers in the client organisation.
Are all Sunley's programmes bespoke?
No, sometimes clients do not want bespoke programmes and find our 'generic' schemes meet their needs. This means that the programmes can be started immediately and they cost less than bespoke or tailored programmes.
Can Sunley programmes be run on our premises?
Yes, most of our programmes are now delivered at the client's premises. We have a very well equipped residential training centre at The University of Northampton and clients with managers based throughout the UK often find our centre the best venue for the programme. However, it is clearly much more convenient, and cheaper, for one trainer to travel to the client's premises than for 15 managers to travel to Northampton. We have delivered programmes in all parts of the UK in the last 12 months, in addition to running events in Europe and Asia.
My organisation cannot afford to have managers away from the office for days on end. What can Sunley do to help meet their development needs?
In addition to our trainer based programmes, which can be delivered at the client's premises, we have a large range of e-learning programmes. These range from an e-learning MBA scheme to 'bite sized' learning modules. Managers from public and private sector organisations in the UK are getting the learning they need through our e-learning provision.
What happens if I have managers on a multi-module programme and one or more of them have to miss a module, or part of it?
When this happens we can either:
- Put the manager on the next available module — if there is one
- Provide an intensive, trainer based version of the module, done at the client's premises
- Provide e-learning material to enable people to catch up
Increasingly clients are choosing to use e-learning material to enable those who miss a whole module, or even a small part of it, to catch up
What sort of learning methods does Sunley use? Our managers are not academics and do not want to be lectured at!
All of our modules are designed to reflect the different learning styles of managers. Our experience, based on research and over 20 years of providing management development programmes, is that managers like to participate in their learning. Therefore, we use a range of delivery methods, ranging from outdoor management development to case studies, role plays and action learning.
Is there a minimum number of managers that our organisation can put on a bespoke business qualification programme?
No, although it is unlikely that an organisation would want a bespoke programme for less than 20 managers. However, depending on the level of tailoring required, making a programme specific to a particular organisation need not be expensive. Many organisations find that simply working with us to design suitable work based projects is all the tailoring that they need to ensure the programme is both relevant and applicable to their managers.
How can we be assured that Sunley tutors will understand our business / organisation?
All our tutors have previous experience of working in a line management capacity in either the public or private sector. Additionally, for bespoke programmes tutors will undergo some form of induction into the client's business or organisation. In the past this has involved playing bingo, shadowing managers, night-shifts on a production line, 'back to the floor' type activities and attending company induction courses.