To meet this need, Dundee & Angus College drew on its extensive resources, including a range of teaching departments and experienced associate trainers. One such trainer, Stevie Baxter from The Sporting Pursuit, has been instrumental in delivering bespoke training that focuses specifically on talent development, leadership development, and character development.
The training courses, such as the Future Leaders course, were designed to support employees at the Old Course Hotel in becoming more effective leaders. Jack, Conference and Banqueting Assistant Manager, shared his experience: "The training has had a massive impact on me, enabling me to better manage my team and lead them effectively." He added, "I’ve learned so much more about how to deal with and interact with people."
This practical, hands-on training has had a positive effect not only on individual participants but also on the overall performance of the team. Jack noted, "The way I deal with people on a day-to-day basis, not just at work, has totally changed."
One of the most significant outcomes of this partnership has been the improvement in staff retention - a critical challenge in the hospitality industry. Janine Brown highlighted this achievement, stating, "As of the end of October, our retention rate was 89.6% for permanent associates, which is absolutely phenomenal within the hospitality industry." This impressive retention rate reflects the value employees feel from the investment in their development.
A key factor in the success of these training courses has been the funding, which provides financial support for businesses to access high-quality training. Janine noted that "by having access to the fund, this opened up opportunities for the training courses that we were able to provide."
This collaboration between Dundee & Angus College and the Old Course Hotel exemplifies how businesses can effectively use available resources to meet their specific needs and drive growth.
Janine Brown emphasised the benefits of working with Dundee & Angus College’s Business Partnerships team: "The relationship I’ve found since working with Dundee and Angus College has been nothing but positive. They’re such a good team, not only providing fantastic opportunities for local businesses but also establishing fantastic relationships."
Dundee & Angus College is committed to supporting more businesses across the region. Whether you're looking to develop leadership within your team, enhance your workforce's skills, or explore available training opportunities, our Business Partnerships team is on hand to help.
