Churchill Education has specialised in Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for a decade and has developed a simple approach to recognising experience. They offer approximately 70 qualifications through both RPL and training, through a blended delivery model that fits to student’s needs and location.

Churchill Education recognises that leadership comes from all levels and is not a result of having a title. They created a Leadership Development Program which would develop capability in their formal and informal leaders, acknowledge and reward their contribution and produce tangible business outcomes. The Wingman Leadership Development Program aims to not only retain those who are participating in the program, but also other team members. The program is based on the premise that “before leading others you must lead yourself”. It has four major components: developmental workshops, identifying and solving workplace issues or problems, a study tour, and a mentor/mentee arrangement. The Senior Executive team act as mentors in the program, which requires them to also undertake some personal and professional development. Some highlights of the program are the health and fitness assessment, the retreat and the equine component.

There has been nil turnover of participants in the Wingman Leadership Program. Since the program commenced in October, Churchill Education’s staff turnover rate over the past seven months has been 8%, which was 28% in the first 9 months of 2015. This is a large difference and they believe that the Wingman program has been a contributor to this reduction. Additionally, Churchill Education’s students graduate at a rate of 85%. As a direct result of the Wingman program, Churchill Education implemented a customer service initiative to focus on improving their service levels to customers, especially their students. This has seen every team member get allocated a virtual student (who is a cut out photograph of an actual student) to act as a reminder to staff about why we they there.

Churchill Education expect both their internal customers (colleagues) and external customers (students) to flow through Churchill Education and use the opportunity to increase their skills and change their lives for the better, and the Wingman Leadership Program is an example of this.