Bank of Ireland staff graduate with management and leadership degrees

The first cohort of Senior Managers at Bank of Ireland Group who participated in their in-house delivered leadership programme have graduated with a university qualification.

Fifty seven employees at a senior level within the leading financial institution have been awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Managing and Leading People by Coventry University.

The graduates are the first to complete the Bank of Ireland leadership development programme since it was accredited by Coventry University through its leadership specialist subsidiary Acua Limited.

It is one of three Bank of Ireland programmes to have been recognised to a higher education standard by Acua Limited in collaboration with Coventry University Business School.

Leadership development specialists within Acua Limited worked closely with experts within the Business School’s Human Resources and Organisational Behaviour departments to deliver the accreditation.

Eamonn Eaton, Head of Group Learning & Engagement at Bank of Ireland Group, said:

The graduation is a significant milestone as it represents our first group of managers to have gained this top-class qualification.

Typically those working in the banking industry have a primary degree associated with the profession.  This accreditation gives our managers and team leaders the fantastic opportunity to achieve an externally recognised qualification in leadership development.

Success is built on the strength of leadership and this demonstrates our commitment to investing in the leadership capability of our managers for the benefit of those individuals and our business as a whole.

Annie Nolan and Joyce Conlon represented the graduates from the UK and Republic of Ireland at a ceremony at Coventry Cathedral where they were presented with their Certificates.

Annie, Head of Operations Business Banking GB, said:

Although I have many years of experience in leadership, the programme enabled me to enhance my practical experience with management theory and gain a recognised management qualification which is really beneficial.

Joyce, Group Learning Development Manager, added: “It has given me a great sense of achievement and I have since taken on the responsibility for the management of the programme in partnership with Acua Limited as part of my role.

As one of the first participants to graduate, I hope we will encourage others within the Bank of Ireland Group to aspire to the qualification and the opportunities that it presents.

Andy Watkins, business coach at Acua Limited, congratulated the Bank of Ireland Group’s inaugural graduates, who will be followed by the next group of 33 managers enrolling for the Post Graduate Certificate in September.

He said:

We are delighted to be providing the Bank of Ireland Group with an internationally recognised accreditation that helps maximise the investment in its leaders as the future of the organisation.

Our collaboration with Coventry University Business School highlights the added value that we can bring by harnessing our client management and industry expertise with business-focused specialists throughout the University Group.