Home > News > June 2005 > 13-Jun-2005

Network Rail sends its managers to Coventry

Network Rail has announced the purchase of the Westwood leadership centre in Coventry. Over 4,000 managers and supervisors are expected to use the centre over the next two years as Network Rail seeks to strengthen its leadership capability.

The centre will deliver a programme of professional skills development, including accredited leadership and management courses. These will be developed in conjunction with two departments from the University of Warwick – the Warwick Business School and Warwick Manufacturing Group. The first Network Rail managers are expected to enrol for study later this year.

Iain Coucher, Network Rail’s Deputy Chief Executive said: "Leadership skills are critical to the success of our company’s mission to rebuild Britain’s railways. The investment in Westwood is a vital part of our long-term plans to develop a team of professionals: Strong managers who will lead our company into the next decade."

The residential training and conference centre has around 150 study-bedrooms and 40 meeting/conference rooms. It's purchase is part of Network Rail's programme of employee development which has seen the implementation of several schemes since the companies inception in 2002. These include:

• A Foundation degree course in railway engineering at Sheffield Hallam University, now in its second year
• An Advanced apprentice scheme for over 1,000 17-18 year olds starting in September this year, taught in conjunction with Royal Navy instructors at HMS Sultan in Gosport
• New signaller training centres opened in Leeds and Watford
• Skills and competence training for all maintenance employees

University of Warwick Vice-Chancellor, Professor David VandeLinde said: "We bring to this partnership some of Europe’s most highly rated and valued management and engineering experts and trainers who will help equip Network Rail staff with the skills they need to manage and develop such a crucial part of the UK ‘s transport infrastructure."

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