Dr Elaine Monkhouse, who is a well-known name within Guernsey’s business community, has spent the past 18 months as interim CEO for the GTA University Centre and is now heading off to warmer climes to take life slightly easier. Before her departure, Elaine spoke to Contact – with Simon Le Tocq who replaces her as CEO – about the training and education landscape in the island and the role the GTA plays.
The shift in Guernsey’s demographic profile is a subject of much debate. Elaine explained the new training model that could help develop and retain skills in the island.
‘We know that we have an ageing population and a reduction in middle management ‘earners’ in the workforce. We therefore need to either attract more locals back when they graduate or we need to encourage them to stay in the first place. Part of the GTA’s longer-term strategy is to develop the ‘earn as you learn’ education model. This is basically where a student will be employed but will take up part time study towards a first degree or a professional qualification.
‘The employer’s role is vital if this model is to be successful and we have had very strong feedback from the business sector that it is something that would be extremely attractive to both employers and employees alike. It’s a model that has already been successfully introduced in Jersey and so we can learn from that. Employers with operations in both islands are understandably particularly keen to see it and it is a great way of developing skills that will stay within the island for its long-term benefit.’
Initially the degree courses available will focus on the finance sector, together with the law degree currently offered. Looking ahead other subject areas such as IT could potentially be added.
‘We wrote the proposal for the academy of code,’ said Simon, ‘which will be one of the key strands of the digital greenhouse. We already offer short coding courses but with a view to introducing a full three year degree course in IT with the ‘earn while you learn model’. It’s a question of identifying the growth areas where training needs are likely to be greatest.’
The recent financial crisis prompted quite a change in the attitudes of local businesses towards training as Simon explained.
‘Before the downturn, companies sent staff on courses in many instances without a huge degree of thought. As budgets tightened, businesses started considering the benefit an employee could deliver back to the company on completion of a course; potential return on training investment became a part of the decision-making process that had not necessarily featured previously.’
Technology has been another game changer in the training world.
‘Technology certainly opens up a range of training opportunities,’ said Simon. ‘We offer some blended courses – a combination of online and face-to-face learning – which I believe will become the most common model. There are courses available entirely online but for me learning is a social activity and bringing people into a classroom is important. It facilitates ideas exchange and stimulates creativity. The blended approach combines the best of both worlds and is learning at its most effective.’
Collaboration and communication are other keys to the GTA’s role and success.
‘We have advisory groups for each of our key business sectors,’ explained Elaine.
‘This is one of the ways that we can identify the skills and training gaps, with direct input from employers; our team of programme managers has regular face-to-face meetings with businesses to discuss their needs – this is something that they have always done, but now we have freed up their time to enable even more of this type of networking in the future. We also undertake research surveys asking both for feedback on course delivery and also on future requirements. We are here to offer a service to the island so two-way communication with the business community is imperative.’
What legacy will Elaine leave?
‘The GTA was already doing some great things when I joined; I think the organisation is now very strong and has clarity on what it’s here to do; we have the right people in the right roles and a bit more political support. One challenge I had was to enhance the organisation’s profile and articulate what it is we actually do. The GTA basically facilitates training; we don’t employ tutors directly but bring them in for courses as and when required. This enables us to be extremely agile and react quickly to changing markets and employer needs. We are not in competition with the private training providers – on the contrary, we feed them business and we have a clear policy now to look on-island first for providers.. I think that these messages are gradually permeating throughout the local business community but there is still work to do,’ she said.
‘I nudged some of these things along whilst I have been here but it is certainly not all down to me.’
And the one thing Elaine would like to see in the future is financial support for small business training needs.
‘Guernsey’s business community has an incredibly high percentage of small businesses. Freeing staff to attend a two-day course is a particular challenge when you have a workforce of say five people. I would love to see the island supporting small businesses in this regard through some form of financial assistance. Small businesses are the life blood of the economy and potentially tomorrow’s medium-sized or large businesses.’
Simon became CEO at the beginning of March. Elaine will split her time between Italy and the UK where she will continue tutoring for the Open University MBA, mostly online.
You can find out more about the GTA by visiting their new website, www.gta.gg or following them on social media. Technology in training in action.