The MDS Ltd off the job training comprises of 27 days over the two years, this forming; an induction session, three individual weeks of formal training with additional 2 day seminars spread throughout the period. The courses are run and coached with a mixture of tutors from The Dovenest Group and specialist lecturers from the industry.

Each Management Trainee attends the 'off-the-job' training to develop skills in self-management, people management and managing a business. The Postgraduate Certificate accredited by Harper Adams is built around both the experience gained whilst on secondment and also the different training courses.

Below find details of the training:

Course 1 - Induction (3 days)

• Personal development
• People interactions
• Instructional techniques
• First Aid / Health & Safety / Manual Handling

Course 2 - Seminar (2 days)

• Industry issues (Category management / Passionate about Produce)
• Resolution of difficult situations

Course 3 - Effective Management & Motivational Leadership (5 day course)

• Teamwork & leadership
• Organising & planning work
• Self management
• Identifying development areas

Course 4 - Seminar (2 days)

• Finance for managers – using financial information as a decision tool

Course 5 - Challenging Existing Processes (5 day course)

• Challenging production processes
• Problem solving techniques
• Managing change
• Influencing skills

Course 6 - Seminar (2 days)

• Managing people (recruitment & selection, coaching & development, giving & receiving feedback)

Course 7 - Managing a Business (5 day course)

• How to manage a business
• Integrating the different business functions
• Customer relationships
• Managing upwards

Course 8 - Seminar (2 days)

• Negotiation skills
• Employment law

Our combination of formal training and practical experience works well, as illustrated by the impressive record of MDS Ltd Management Trainees moving into well-paid and responsible jobs on completion of the programme.

MDS Ltd is recognised as providing high quality training to enable Management Trainees to possess key skills of managing of people, and thus the Postgraduate Certificate formalises and provides further recognition of this training.

This is the first work based training program of its kind in the UK to be accredited to the level of a PgC.

The value of the MDS programme, including Management Trainees' salary and employment costs, is around £50,000 per Management Trainee.