GREAT Learning & Development

We strive to continually improve but we can only do so if everyone in our organisation has the right level of knowledge, skills, and embraces and lives the GREAT values and behaviours. At our annual Awards night we celebrate the many achievements of our GREAT colleagues. Most of our managers are trained as coaches and mentors; we believe that to give our best we need to encourage learning as a ‘must have’ and coaching or mentoring is a GREAT way to continually develop our potential.

We were the first housing association in the country to sponsor an Academy – The New Charter Academy. Through the GREAT efforts of our Building Company we raised the finances necessary to sponsor our Academy in Tameside, which opened in September 2008. A brand new building for our teachers, support staff, pupils and the whole community should be ready by September 2010.

With us you’ll always be encouraged to continually develop your skills and knowledge. To help you do this we hold regular personal growth sessions where you have the opportunity to have a relaxed and informal discussion about your career aspirations.

Your personal growth is important to us. That’s why we provide excellent training, access to further and/or higher education, job shadowing, opportunities for secondments, seminars and conferences, regular one-to-ones, performance reviews, counselling, e.learning, journals and articles, as well as making a point to hold team meetings and briefings.

Our Organisational Development Business Partners look after the development of all colleagues. With them, and your Line Manager, you can discuss any development needs you may have. Or if it is only an informal chat you want, you can speak with them or attend one of their personal growth sessions.

This centre was created in partnership with the Unions in 2005. Since then it has been providing ‘Life Long Learning Opportunities for Employees, Tenants and their Families’. There are a variety of learning opportunities available including Skills for Life (Maths and English) through to higher-level skills. The Learning Centre Co-ordinator and a number of Union Learning Representatives offer advice on courses and can also tell you if there are any funding opportunities available.