The partnership will enable LFB to deliver the ILM Level 3 Award, Certificate and Diploma in Management and the ILM Level 4 Award in Management, and as one of the few European countries with a predicted rise in GDP for 2009 and continued access to the European Social Fund, the Polish market is an attractive one.

Penny de Valk, CEO ILM, said: “This is a very exciting project. The partnership between LFB and MCS enables ILM’s flexible development solutions to be delivered to a significant new audience across Poland. As leaders and managers across the globe face the tough times ahead, it is more important than ever for leaders and managers to operate across international boundaries and as part of a global economy. ”

ILM qualifications are particularly attractive to Polish learners due to their commonly high levels of spoken English and the growing presence of UK Plc in Poland over the last decade, with companies including Provident, Tesco, Price Waterhouse Cooper, BT and Arup making significant investment.

UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) provided an invaluable contribution to the joint venture, making introductions and nurturing the Anglo-Polish relationship through the provision of financial support for overseas visits, networking opportunities and export consultancy.

Thomas Schaal - International Trade Adviser, UK Trade & Investment, said: “Learning for Business joined the UKTI Passport to Export programme to help their business to succeed overseas and we are delighted with their achievement to date.”

With MCS currently offering training to a variety of enterprises across Poland, LFB’s Polish partners are well-equipped to promote ILM programmes in Polish cities and provide key logistical support. Back in the UK, LFB will use their years of expertise in leadership and management development to register learners, deliver learning, undertake assessment activity and provide learning materials.

Richard Cresswell, Managing Director of Learning for Business (LFB), said: “We are delighted to be working with MCS to offer ILM qualifications to the Polish market. The decision to expand our reach was a huge commitment for LFB and the project has been immensely intensive and rewarding. Although the economic climate signals a slowdown in Poland, the outlook is still positive and the partnership will provide enormous opportunities as we look to the future.”

[ENDS]

• For press information please contact Katie Brennan on 020 7294 3054 or email katie.brennan@i-l-m.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

• ILM

The Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) is Europe’s leading management organisation. ILM partners with more than 80,000 individuals and organisations each year to help them fulfil their potential and achieve success through its wide range of flexible leadership and management development solutions.

From industry-leading qualifications and membership services to specialist learning resources, all ILM products and services are built on in-depth research and benchmarked against best practice standards. Supporting a fast-growing community of over 30,000 practising leaders and managers, ILM’s membership services are designed to provide ongoing continuing professional development throughout every stage of a manager’s career.

Backed by an in depth programme of thought leadership research, ILM operates internationally, improving leadership and management skills, knowledge and outputs across all sectors, from corporate finance to the armed forces. http://www.i-l-m.com/

• Learning For Business Ltd

Established in 2001, Learning for Business provides effective and high quality leadership and management training & development solutions across the private, public and third sector.

An ILM accredited centre since 2002, Learning for Business provides a wide range of leadership, management and coaching qualifications along with bespoke learning solutions and people management consultancy. Training and development is delivered through interactive workshops, supported e-learning, supported distance learning or through blended learning. They also specialise in 1:1 solutions.

They have also developed a wide range of effective leadership and management assessment and training materials and are a licensed reseller of Learndirect e-learning materials. There consultancy services include: training needs analysis; performance management and evaluating the effects and benefits from learning.
If you wish to know more about Learning For Business please visit: http://www.learningforbusiness.co.uk/

• Mazowieckie Centrum Szkolen (Training Centre of the Mazowieckie Region)

MCS was established in 1998 in Warsaw. The company provides a range of high quality training schemes in the area of soft skills as well as in law, finance, insurance, sales and negotiations. MCS’s key assumption is that human capital is any company’s vital asset. Their aim is to organise training to support the development of companies by broadening the employees’ qualifications and expertise and providing motivation for self-development. MCS’s services and expertise in organising and conducting both open and in-house training schemes have been appreciated by over 4,500 companies and institutions. MCS offers training co-financed by the European Social Fund.

If you wish to know more about MCS, please visit: http://www.mcs.edu.pl/ (some pages available in English)