Solihull College

The College newsletter (Update) is frequently used by the staff to write public thank you notes to show their appreciation to any of their colleagues or other teams for anything special they have done. The Principal and the senior managers occasionally write to staff to recognise any outstanding contributions they have made to the organisation.

Throughout 2008/09 and 2009/10, the Principal took time to visit individual departments on a regular basis in an effort to update colleagues on the Capital Project and provide an open forum to air any concerns and/or suggestions on any subject. The Principal undertakes regular Q&A sessions with Middle Managers aiming to address any staff concerns or action any suggestions as swiftly and as efficiently as possible. The Principal personally meets and welcomes any new staff individually over coffee whilst senior managers facilitate their formal staff inductions.

The College run an investment in excellence programme which is a four day course developed based on the principles of cognitive psychology and in particular the power of positive thought and aspirational goal setting. Such was the success of the programmes that ten managers undertook a course that gives them the ability to deliver the course internally in order to roll it out to all staff in subsequent years. The sharing of best practice is strongly supported and encouraged, the College is aware that it needs to constantly refresh its approaches to sharing good practice and has continued its positive work in ensuring new ideas and teaching tools are shared within and across faculties.