The University of Northampton and Market Harborough based events agency, Sheer Edge Ltd, have developed an innovative partnership to support Northamptonshire to get back to business, and support students with their studies.
Sheer Edge offers popular event management training workshops for the industry and were able to swiftly respond to the business challenges of COVID-19 pandemic by moving their training community online. This move has helped to keep the events industry knowledgeable, well trained and ready to bounce back as lockdown restrictions are eased.
Karen Edwards, Sheer Edge Training Academy Director, added: “We know many people are furloughed right now, but we’ve received numerous enquiries from training managers and individuals interested in booking our sessions, so we know people want to upskill, or train in a new industry. We are delighted to be able to support this”.
The University of Northampton’s Events Management experts have supported Sheer Edge to develop areas of their online training, especially around Events Health and Safety, a timely topic as businesses plan to reopen as lockdown restrictions ease.
Claire Leer, Deputy Subject Leader for Events, Tourism and Hospitality and Senior Lecturer in Events Management and Tourism explained: “The University and Sheer Edge have developed a partnership to enable students and graduates to access industry led training and networking opportunities, to complement their degree programme.
“At this time of year, our students would normally be planning and running events for local charities and businesses as their dissertation project. COVID-19 changed all that, and our students found out one of the industry’s biggest lessons – you need a contingency plan!
“Although they can’t get the practical experience in industry during lockdown, they’ve been able to use the Sheer Edge training and networking events to broaden their specialist industry knowledge and network with potential employers. This exposure to industry experts means they’re well prepared and well placed to apply for jobs as the industry bounces back.”
Sheer Edge Managing Director, Jo Ferreday, said: “This is such a great opportunity for Northamptonshire’s business and the University community to unite and learn from each other. Many businesses, like ours, have been hugely impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we have hope, as we offer out our skills to the business community working to get back to business.
“We have been working with a team of Event Management Industry professionals to bring our training courses online. We have been working extremely hard as a collective to supporting students and others to learn more about the industry and the way in which we are ready to rebuild post COVID-19.”
The company has a wide syllabus of courses, masterclasses and modules to help those new to the events industry, or upskill those already within it. There will be beginners, intermediate and advanced modules that existing event professionals can complete to upskill.
To access the online courses please visit: https://sheeredgeacademy.thinkific.com/
People can access the online communities via its Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/SheerEdgeTrainingEventCommunity/) or LinkedIn page https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8922236/
Or by subscribing to their youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbY59C39Yw-pFcE2D2JdXrw/
For more information or queries contact:; mail@sheeredge.co.uk or call NUMBER: 0330 223 3176
