Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc Leverages Tay Cities SME Skills Fund for Team Development

MSIP provides space for businesses focused on sustainable mobility and decarbonisation, positioning Dundee as a hub for green technology innovation. The site offers tenants an Innovation Hub, skills support, and green energy, alongside a Skills Academy.

Challenge: A Need for Team and Leadership Development

While MSIP is focused on encouraging external innovation, the organisation also understands the importance of internal development. After operating as a largely closed-off site in its opening through the pandemic, MSIP opened to the public, creating a shift in how the team interacted with external stakeholders.

Recognising this cultural change, MSIP's management team identified key areas for development, including customer service and internal collaboration. Management wanted to bring everyone together from their different departments to make a more cohesive team environment that aligned with the organisation's goals.

At the same time, MSIP was committed to upskilling its employees but sought financial support to maximise the impact of its training efforts. Having existing ties to Dundee and Angus College through the Skills Academy on site, MSIP was introduced to the Tay Cities SME Skills Fund.

Solution: Leveraging the Tay Cities SME Skills Fund

Gill Simpson, Marketing and Innovation Director at MSIP, discovered that the Fund could be applied to MSIP’s training needs after a conversation with the Business Partnerships Manager at Dundee and Angus College. Eager to take advantage of this opportunity, Gill contacted Elaine Donnachie, the Fund’s Training Needs Advisor for Dundee and Angus, who provided a comprehensive overview of how the fund could support MSIP’s goals.

“The initial conversation with Elaine was incredibly helpful,” said Gill. “It sparked discussions within our team about what types of training would be most beneficial to us, and it gave us a roadmap to develop the skills we needed.”

Gill Simpson, Marketing & Innovation Manager at MSIP.

After assessing MSIP’s specific needs, Elaine proposed a tailored training programme that included leadership training for the management team and a bespoke ‘Effective Teams’ package for the entire organisation. This dual approach would not only enhance customer service skills but also promote collaboration across departments.

Training Implementation and Results

MSIP moved forward with the proposed training, beginning with the Effective Teams course, which consisted of two full days on-site for the entire team in two cohorts of 10 people. The leadership training for MSIP's management followed shortly after, with one full day of training designed to build on the insights gained during the Effective Teams sessions.

LEGO sets used in the training to show difference of perspective in a team.

“We found it incredibly beneficial to do the Effective Teams training first,” Gill explained. “It provided a foundation for the management team to approach leadership from a perspective already informed by the broader team’s experiences. We had several lightbulb moments during the training, particularly around understanding the customer journey and improving our service.”

The training provided the team with tools to improve communication and collaboration, ensuring that all employees, regardless of their department, were aligned with MSIP’s mission and vision for the future.

“The techniques we learned are already having an impact, and I’m confident they will continue to strengthen our team even further over time,” added Gill.

Gill's LEGO duck created as part of the Effective Teams training.

A Streamlined Funding Process

One of the most significant advantages of working with the Tay Cities SME Skills Fund was the simplicity of the application process. Gill noted how seamless the experience was, thanks to the support provided by Training Needs Advisor, Elaine.

“Elaine made the whole process so straightforward. It took no more than an hour of my time to check over the application. The Fund team understands how busy businesses are, so they handle most of the work, and we received approval within a week,” Gill shared.

Beyond the ease of application, the grant eliminated the financial barrier to training, allowing MSIP to focus on what their team truly needed without being constrained by budget limitations. “The Fund allowed us to think creatively and strategically about our training needs. We could focus on what would be most beneficial to the business rather than what we could afford, which made a huge difference.”

Conclusion: A Stronger, More Cohesive Team

By taking advantage of the Tay Cities SME Skills Fund, MSIP successfully upskilled its workforce, improved customer service, and enhanced greater internal collaboration - all key to supporting its broader mission of driving sustainable innovation. The training provided a much needed opportunity for reflection and development, allowing MSIP to reset as a cohesive team with a shared understanding of their goals and a stronger focus on the customer journey.

The positive experience has left a lasting impression on MSIP. “The entire process was effortless, from application to training delivery,” said Gill. “Chris was a fantastic Effective Teams trainer, and the Fund team made everything so easy. I would highly recommend other businesses explore this opportunity to invest in their team’s growth.”