Find out about Doncaster College’s enterprising staff

In 2008 Doncaster College launched its Enterprise College project in association with Doncaster Council’s Local Enterprise Growth Initiative scheme, Success Doncaster. Through this relationship funding was secured which has enabled the delivery of the enterprise training to staff across the College.

EnterpriseUpfront finds out how staff members are being encouraged to become more enterprising through professional development opportunities.

So far more than 500 staff members at the College have undertaken the NCFE Level 1 award in Exploring Enterprise Capabilities and more than a hundred staff are still due to take the course in the coming weeks.

Staff volunteered to participate in an afternoon of training which encourages them to take on the role of enterprising tutors, urging learners to develop a more innovative approach to their work.

The programme will help staff identify and encourage entrepreneurial skills, attributes and behaviours and signpost students to appropriate support.

Participation in the qualification has benefited the College through the generation of new initiatives such as new courses, new business ideas and new innovative ways for the College to make an income.

Participating staff member Matt Needham said: “It was a real insight into how new ideas from staff could help the running of the College and improve the services it offers to the wider public.”

Is it anticipated that as ideas begin to be implemented, staff will see the benefits and will feel encouraged to share their ideas.

Enterprise College Project Manager Jayne Robinson said: “It’s great to see so many of our staff members achieving this qualification and embracing the ethos of enterprise.”

“Some new and exciting ideas have come out of the training which will make the College a more enterprising place to work and a more innovative place for the students to learn.“

Successful completion of this formal training will support staff to participate in other enterprise opportunities the Colleges offers such as its own Enterprise Day in March and national Enterprise Week in November.

For further information about Doncaster College visit www.don.ac.uk