E-Malt.com News article: UK: Scottish & Newcastle UK Limited joins ICM’s learning partnership initiative

Scottish & Newcastle UK Limited has become the latest high profile company to join the recently launched Learning Partnership initiative run by the Institute of Credit Management (ICM), Creditman reported August 13. The team received its certificate at an informal presentation at its Livingston offices on Thursday 2nd August.

ICM Learning Partnerships are formed to encourage the effective development of credit management people and their working processes, enabling organisations to work closely in conjunction with the ICM Education Department to review credit management processes and identify training needs, in order to raise performance.

Scottish & Newcastle, the international brand driven, beer-led drinks business, took advantage of the opportunity to work with the ICM, as Vicki Mackintosh, Regional On and Off Credit Manager explains: “Scottish and Newcastle has a strong commitment to training and progress. For three years we had been running ICM training in-house with our own lecturer, so when the ICM Learning Partnership was introduced, participation seemed like the obvious next stage for us. Joining the Learning Partnership scheme has certainly played a vital role in formalising the relationship between the two organisations.

“We have a large team of 50 covering the whole of the UK. The ongoing training has been hugely beneficial in boosting the team’s performance, and central to internal progression. While there have been some learners studying for the Associate and full Member status, the majority have been studying the Introductory Credit Management course. This course proved extremely useful, helping students to see the bigger picture by learning about other areas of the credit sphere, for example sales and export.

“The improvement in terms of performance since the training has been outstanding. The KPIs improved vastly across the board, with off trade for example being reduced from £25million to just £500k, as a result of reassessing our systems and training more wisely.

“I have been an ICM Member for seven years, and have benefited from the professional status that membership brings. Participation in the ICM Learning Partnership scheme has strengthened Scottish & Newcastle’s commitment to training and progress, and consolidated its relationship with the ICM,” Vicki concludes.

Director General of the ICM, Philip King adds: “The ICM Learning Partnership offers the ideal opportunity for the ICM to work with the industry to promote development and training. We are pleased to see such prestigious organisations participating, with the partnerships proving to have a real impact.”


15 August, 2007