MANAGEMENT SKILLS CENTRE
About Us
The Management Skills Centre Limited (MSC) was incorporated in April 2008 to provide relevant, practical and effective training courses and associated services that equip people whose careers involve management.
Emphasis is on the Management of Projects, where the projects may be in construction, engineering or information systems but also include social enterprise or business entrepreneurship. This approach integrates many of the individual disciplines of management, and, as well as covering delivery of the project "on time, in budget, to scope", broadens the subject to include setting up and defining the project in order to achieve stakeholder success. The benefit of this approach is an enhanced understanding of the processes of project management.
The company's founder, Andrew Scott, took early retirement from his position as founding Director of Management Studies at University College London. (UCL is currently ranked as fourth in the world by the Times Higher - QS World University Rankings.) His early research was in studies of the earth's upper atmosphere using rockets, satellites and high-altitude balloons. After taking an MBA at the University of Warwick Business School, his university career culminated in setting up a programme of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in management. After 15 years these were taken by over 1000 students per year. His aim was to equip students for future employment through provision of challenging and practical courses and he regarded management of projects as central to this vision.
This programme was described by an external examiner as "..of high quality, provided by knowledgeable and capable lecturers. The administration team are outstanding in their capabilities, dedication and standards of performance."
He obtained accreditation for the undergraduate project management course from the APM.
The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education reviewed the whole programme in April 2003 and found that "Project management is particularly impressive and well received by students".
In addition, in 1999, he set up a successful CPD programme of open APMP courses - this was also accredited by the APM. This achieved a higher than average pass rate when compared with the other accredited course providers.
Now he uses this experience to develop and expand his ideas within the commercial sector - to provide the right mix of theory and practical application to make the courses especially useful and illuminating.
Further details may be found at http://www.ecademy.com/user/andrewscott9.
Training Associates
Vinetta's initial background was in Biochemistry and Molecular Pathology. She became Departmental Administrator of the Management Studies Centre at University College London. During this time she qualified as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. By 2007 she had been in post for 11 years and over 1000 students were enrolled on the undergraduate and postgraduate programme. Vinetta had built up an administrative team described by an external examiner as "outstanding in their capabilities, dedication and standards of performance". She also had overall responsibility for the UCL programme of open courses for the APM APMP qualification; these attracted many clients from FTSE 100 companies. She is now an independent consultant with particular expertise in coaching related to team building, leadership and management of change.
Jane Burns-Nurse MBA MIRS MCIM
Currently a Lecturer in the Department of Management Science and Innovation within the Faculty of Engineering Sciences at University College London. Former Marketing and Communications Director with 25 years experience of the Retail and IT Sectors. A qualified teacher and MBA with highly developed interpersonal, leadership and communication skills. Specialises in the cultural, behavioural and communications aspects of large-scale organisational change programmes. Has obtained the APM's APMP qualification.
Andy Nurse is a specialist in organisational development, programme management and training development and delivery. His background has been in engineering and IT systems followed by marketing and business development. This has given him experience of a wide range of industries both in UK and overseas and in both the private and public sectors. He is currently a Research Associate at Kingston University completing a Doctor of Business Administration programme.
David Woolven is the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the School of Construction and Project Management at University College London. He is a Senior Lecturer in Construction and Project Management in the Faculty of the Built Environment and has been part of the teaching staff since 1995. David has 35 years experience of major construction projects , both in the UK and overseas, and has been an active member of The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) for 25 years serving on a number of national committees.
Business Associates
Eonic provides web design, content management and website consultancy to UK businesses that want more out of their website. Based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, they are now a leading provider of websites in the region and employ 13 full-time staff and manage websites for over 150 clients.
Torpedo Juice is a team of designers and marketing specialists who focus on delivering fresh and effective work for their clients. By listening to clients and researching their markets, they work together in implementing effective and imaginative solutions across all media. They are based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
