Learning & Development
Reach your potential
Our commitment
We want everyone who works for us to reach their full potential. Helping develop their skills is something we do every single day.
Whether you want to reach an advanced skill level, hone your current skills, or want to climb the career ladder, we want you to know that we are striving to further your career just as much as you are. That is why we offer a 1-month review with your line manager, touchpoint reviews with the in-house HR team, and then ongoing reviews with your line manager.
Training Academy
The Training Academy opened its doors in 2016 and we have never looked back. We have an accredited high-tech base to provide the best skills training to all our apprentices and tradespeople. At the Academy we can replicate on-site situations, so the training is real and relevant.
We can oversee that our operatives will always be ‘best in class’ with an emphasis on quality, compliance, and meeting industry approved standards. It also assesses the competency of our operational staff in relation to both mechanical and electrical safe systems of working.
All our employees benefit from our in-house Training Academy. We deliver bespoke training courses across the entire business, which means all our employees are also health and safety compliant. We also offer a wide range of courses and programmes externally.
Leadership Programmes
Our strategy is to invest in our people and we have a philosophy of continuous professional development. We have already made considerable progress by employing learning and development specialists in both the UK and Irish businesses, who coordinate our new annual talent development programmes; Leadership Academy (UK), Leading Our Way (ROI), Emerging Talent (UK) and Springboard (ROI).
These bespoke programmes have been designed to support existing leaders in the business to better coach and mentor their teams, build internal relationships that last and transition from a ‘manager’ to a ‘leader’.
Courses are also available for our future leaders who are demonstrating high performance and clear potential for progression. All our training initiatives model the behaviours that reflect the core values of Designer Group, and we are committed to continuing to deliver these courses on an annual basis, understanding that our people are the foundation of our continued growth and success.
CPD sponsorships
Designer Group’s Learning and Development Policy applies to all employees from Senior Management to Apprentices. We know that learning and development opportunities are essential to the motivation and retention of our staff.
Designer Group can provide financial assistance to employees to study programmes and courses that are specific to their job or future development.
Meet some of our team
I started my journey with Designer Group in 2017 as a HR Intern on work placement. Since then, I have gained a wide range of experience and skills in the HR profession most recently moving into the role of HR Generalist. I am currently in the process of obtaining my CIPD accreditation through Designer Group's Learning and Development Sponsorship policy, and without the Company, I would not be where I am today in my career. My line manager has also been a major inspiration to me and the experience I have learned from her has allowed me to further develop and excel in my HR role.
Shauna McDonnell
People Operations Partner
I joined Designer Group as a Mechanical Engineer in 2015. Since my start, I have worked on a wide variety of projects ranging from commercial, pharmaceutical, Data Centre and Food and Beverage, with opportunities to travel both locally and internationally, notably working on projects in Kenya and Ghana which provided excellent experiences i would not have availed off elsewhere. There has been a constant emphasis on personal and professional development, which enabled me to achieve Chartered Engineered Status with Engineers Ireland via the company's CPD and training programmes. As part of my development i have transitioned from an Engineering Management position to the Head of Estimation within the Irish Office. The diverse and inclusive nature of the company, its people, operations and environment makes Designer Group an enviable and proud place to work.
John Sheridan
Head of Estimation
I joined Designer Group in 2021 as the Talent Development Specialist. We offer a wide range of learning and development opportunities, from technical training to talent development. Through our programmes and working with the business, I have learned first-hand how hard working, motivated and passionate people are in Designer Group. Every day there is something new to learn.
Valerie McCrory
Talent Development Specialist
Apprenticeships
We are one of the few companies who invest directly in our apprentices to ensure that they achieve their potential.
We formally assess each apprentice at the Training Academy during their ‘On the Job’ training, to the standard required for the national curriculum. We are always looking for apprentices to progress. Some of our senior management, engineering and planning teams began their careers as an apprentice.
Interested in an Apprenticeship?