Training is an integral part of our offering to employees – not only for health, safety and security purposes, but also in developing talent within the business. All employees, in both Menzies Aviation and Menzies Distribution receive an induction programme particular to the work they will be undertaking. Health, safety and security training continues for everyone throughout the employees time in the Company, supplemented by management and leadership courses where an employee is promoted.

All Directors and managers, from the Executive Directors downwards, undergo a formal annual review where feedback is given on the previous year’s performance and goals for the upcoming year are agreed. Individual Personal Development Plans are established, and leadership talent reviews are held to identify those suitable for potential promotion. Other staff receive continual feedback from their branch or local managers.

Leadership development initiatives remain important in Menzies Aviation and 2009 saw the continuation of the ‘Leading from the Front’ programme, which provides supervisory level employees with basic leadership skills. The programme is delivered locally helping to ensure local buy-in to the ‘Menzies Way’ principles. All new employees are given induction training designed to ensure that they can fulfil their tasks safely and securely.

Menzies Distribution continued to deliver its popular ‘Stepping Up’ four day leadership course for supervisors. This tailored course has been supplemented by ‘Release the Potential’ aimed at first level managers, helping employees understand themselves better and improve the way they relate to other people with the intention of improving business performance.

A radical overhaul of Menzies Aviations operational training was completed during the year with some seventy new standardised and approved training modules completed and available on the divisions intranet that form the foundation for all operational training along with the further development and implementation of new policy and procedures manuals for quality assurance, ground service equipment, passenger services and cargo. Which collectively form the Menzies Aviation DNA and will also be published on a memory stick and issued to all business units and start up operations as part of the ‘Menzies in a box’ concept. Furthermore in the first quarter of 2011 a Certificate of Competence will be included with all new tenders setting out the value added benefits that potential customers will gain when selecting and working with Menzies Aviation.

All of the Group’s commercial vehicle drivers are given driver training. Each division has resources made available to it to ensure the training needs of its staff carrying out particular functions and tasks are fully met. Menzies Distribution enlisted the help of Orion PS training group to commence the delivery of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver “CPC”) mandatory training. Under EU regulations, after September 2014 any driver that operates a vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight in excess of 3,500kgs, must have undergone 35 hours of periodic training within the previous 5 years. Orion have delivered the first 7 hour training using Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving and Digital Tachograph operation as the training topics. During an 18 week period, 81 courses were held at 15 locations and 671 drivers were trained to the same competent standard. Due to the requirement of this regulation, a minimum of 7 hours training to these drivers will be provided every year. NVQ training has continued to be provided in our branches to staff and Tachograph training sessions have been held in co-operation with the Freight Transport Association, sharing best practice.

As part of the succession planning within Menzies Distribution, the division launched a programme targeted at developing future talent called ‘Aspire’. ‘Aspire’ is a cutting edge development bespoke programme which is specific to business challenges and competencies. Both the content and the method of delivery have been delivered in a creative, challenging and relevant way to the participants. The programme is made up of 8 workshops and 15 potential future “stars” within the business are participating. The Distribution Operating Board regularly attend and individually sponsor the numerous workshops, and review the outcome of the set project work assigned to the participants. .

All of the Group’s commercial vehicle drivers are given driver training. Each division has resources made available to it to ensure the training needs of its staff carrying out particular functions and tasks are fully met. Managers are also encouraged to foster a work-based culture based on values espoused as part of a campaign promoting and providing guidance on ethical business practices and professional conduct concerning dealings with all our stakeholder groups such as customers, suppliers and of course employees.