The first Leadership and Management Foundation Degree in South Yorkshire is set to be launched in Sheffield.

Business chiefs believe the new qualification - the first for the South Yorkshire region - will fill a current skills gap that could be preventing local businesses from further development.

The new Leadership and Management qualification is the product of collaborative working between Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, Foundation Degree Forward (fdf) and Sheffield Hallam University.

To be launched in the summer, the course will be delivered using the expertise of Sheffield Hallam tutors and has been tailored to suit employer demand.

The Chamber initially joined forces with fdf – the national body to develop high quality, higher education programmes that meet employer need – in 2006 and began working closely with further and higher education institutions, while also encouraging employers to take greater steps to tackle skills gaps.

More recently, the Chamber linked up with Hallam University and fdf on developing the Leadership and Management degree project with the aim of narrowing the skills gap in SME enterprises.

The Chamber consulted its 2000 members, as well as regional employers from sectors including Advanced Engineering and Creative & Digital Industries, to find out exactly what the business community wanted to see included in the new course.

Sheffield Chamber head of business development Paul Reeves said: “This course has been designed directly in response to the wishes of local employers, so it will be truly matched to the needs of Yorkshire businesses from all sectors.

“The Chamber is proud to be involved in the development of this new and innovative course. It will make a significant impact on the development of people and employers in the region, developing the skills the Government has identified as essential for the 21st Century workplace.”

For more information about the Leadership and Management Foundation degree, including details of how to enrol, please contact Sheffield Hallam’s CPD enquiry team on 0114 225 2820, email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or visit http://www.shu.ac.uk/ad/foundation/.