Beacon Bingo
Beacon is part of Praesepe plc which operates 163 gaming machine arcades, an online bingo site plus six Beacon Bingo clubs in the UK.
The company has recently undertaken a training programme for 14 of its Assistant Managers. This involved a 9 month course with the University of Derby Corporate (UDC) for an Advanced Diploma in Leisure Retail Management.
The challenge
Assistant Managers at Beacon have varied backgrounds and there is no recognised route for continuing professional development. Beacon challenged University of Derby Corporate to develop a recognised route for this.
The programme needed to be relevant, flexible and able to successfully engage managers of all ages and educational background, whilst at the same time being challenging and stretching, with appropriate work-based assessment
Despite a healthy position in the sector, funds were very short and the business had been affected by the current economic downturn.
The solution
- The modules we developed were practical and directly relevant concerning the specific working environment of a bingo club. For example, the HR module focused on recruitment and training, coaching and delegating - all things the Assistant Managers do every day but without fully realising their capabilities.
- We developed innovative ways of teaching - sitting in a room at a desk looking at slides is not a typical day for a bingo club manager, so teaching included lots of exercises and break out groups.
- Our flexibility was an asset. We were able to adapt the course as it developed, for example updating sessions when we saw which style worked best.
- We developed assessment methods that were manageable and not daunting for the delegates, some of who'd been out of education for many years. For example, breaking down a 5000 word business plan in to bite-sized chunks.
- Delegate support and feedback was provided throughout. We recognised that the Assistant Managers were working in a practical, on the floor type role, and weren't always available on the end of a phone in normal office hours, so we adapted our support and feedback methods to suit each delegate.
The programme consisted of seven modules, from team building and HR through to strategy, planning, marketing and leadership communications.
Key to its success was the approach taken by Beacon in identifying an in-house company champion for the programme - the Business Development Manager Anthony Vines, who has been a pro-active and enthusiastic part of the team.
The result
All 14 Assistant Managers have now successfully completed the Advanced Diploma in Leisure Retail Management.
They are more aware of their business environment, are far more effective, and have a better understanding of the legislation which affects the sector. They are able to develop their own business plans, and therefore are more aware of the need for pro-active planning. This has in turn led to greater confidence and more interest and enthusiasm in developing themselves and the business further.
Anthony Vines is Business Development Manager for Beacon
He says "the course brought our people together which they greatly appreciated as they could network, discuss ideas and problems and get to know colleagues at the same level. It's broadened their knowledge and skills in a range of areas. The final proof of its effectiveness for me is that during the course three of the delegates were promoted to higher positions. This proved that we were developing our people and that the business has benefited also."
Beacon now has a pipeline of managers who will, in the words of the Chief Operating Officer, be able to 'hit the ground running'.
Kyriacos Kyriacou (known as KK) is an Assistant Manager at the largest bingo club in the UK, Beacon Cricklewood
He says "We've studied a wide range of areas, from employment law, how to deal with staff, reviewing staff and moving the business forward, to how to improve various aspects of the club and the industry as a whole.
The mixture of lectures and practical work made the whole course enjoyable and varied. The final piece of work was challenging yet rewarding at the same time.
Overall, I now feel far more confident when it comes to helping my staff develop and advance their skills in work and life. My vision of the business and how it runs is now far more advanced, and I strongly believe that the course has helped me grow as a person."
