Utility Company Sharpens Negotiation Skills with CIPS In-company Training

Background

Anglian Water supplies drinking water and provides drainage and sewerage to more than six million people across the East of England. Employing around 11,000 direct and indirect staff, the utility provider is proposing to invest £6.5 billion between 2020 and 2025 to meet the needs of the growing region.

The Brief

After a few new starters joined the procurement and supply chain team in quick succession, a training need arose and the company selected an off-the-shelf course called Effective Negotiation – one of three negotiation courses currently in the CIPS skills training catalogue.

Why did the company choose CIPS in-company training?

For groups, in-company delivery proves more cost effective than each of the participants attending an open course, and learning together has been shown to build team working and interaction. With many of the team going through CIPS qualifications, taking a CIPS training course also means CPD hours are automatically recorded on their membership records.

The Result

The training was complimented for its pace and content and all the participants said the course met their initial objectives. The CIPS trainer was also praised for their sustained energy and enthusiasm over the two days.

Comments included:

“One of the best trainers I have ever had. She was personable, interactive and used the content in a manner that you could relate to the work environment.”

“The course has given me not only the knowledge and understanding but the confidence to carry out a negotiation.”

Anglian Water’s investment in training and development is likely to have played a part in their recent accolade of the UK’s best place to work, beating the likes of Google, Ikea and Apple.