The University of Westminster has recognised Operational Coaching® as the latest advancement in management practice and is the first university in the UK to offer global certifications in this crucial discipline.
The university, ranked as one of the top 20 in the UK and globally in the top 30 for international students, will offer the award-winning STAR® Coach Practitioner and Certified STAR® Manager Practitioner programmes as part of its commitment to providing high-impact, practical training that addresses the real-world challenges faced by today’s leaders and managers.
Created by global performance management consultancy Notion, and provided in partnership with APMG, the programmes will be run by Westminster Business School, one of London’s leading centres for business education.
Pressure on line management staff has never been higher, as outdated management approaches fail to keep pace with a rapidly changing workforce and working practices. Employee engagement remains pitifully low amidst The Great Detachment, with management capabilities accounting for as much as 70% of the variance in engagement levels, according to Gallup.
The STAR® programmes offer a structured, evidence-based approach to improving management skills by learning to utilise coaching-related behaviours in the flow of work, leading to the adoption of an Operational Coaching® style of management – ideal for businesses looking to drive productivity, increase employee engagement and retention and those looking to build a strong leadership pipeline.
Scientifically proven to transform management effectiveness in a study commissioned by the UK Government and conducted by the London School of Economics (LSE), Operational Coaching® offers a more agile and impactful way of engaging the skills and talents of the entire workforce centred upon an enquiry-led approach, and is directly applicable to the modern workplace.
In the LSE study, managers from 62 organisations across 14 sectors generated measurable improvements in staff retention, engagement and productivity. LSE proved, to a level of statistical significance, that managers spent, on average, 70% more time coaching their teams in the flow of work whilst delivering a seventy-four times return on investment (ROI).
Chosen for its unique ability to embed behavioural change, the STAR® Coach and STAR® Manager programmes will support leaders and managers at all levels—whether new to leadership or experienced professionals looking to refine their skills. The programmes’ accreditation and evidence-backed impact on organisational culture and performance make them a natural fit for the University of Westminster’s business and executive education offering.
Luisa Guerra, Senior Manager – Short Courses at the University of Westminster, said:
“We are excited to introduce the STAR® programmes as part of our leadership and executive education portfolio. In today’s fast-evolving workplace, managers need practical, evidence-based tools that they can apply to engage and develop their teams effectively. These programmes align perfectly with our commitment to equipping professionals with the skills to lead with confidence and impact.”
Dr Walaa-Eldeen Bakry, Director of Executive Education at the University of Westminster, said:
“At Westminster Business School, we are committed to delivering high-quality, impactful learning experiences that address the real challenges faced by today’s leaders. The STAR® programmes are a fantastic addition to our executive education offering, providing a flexible and proven approach to developing effective, coaching-led managers. We look forward to working with professionals and organisations to help them unlock their leadership potential and drive meaningful change.”
Ellie Bowett, Channel Innovation Director, APMG International, said:
“As organisations square up to the challenges of managing a multi-generational workforce at the same time as having to find ways of doing more with less, Operational Coaching® offers managers a modern approach to respectfully engage and draw on the talents of their teams. The STAR® Coach and Certified STAR® Manager programmes have won multiple awards for learning innovation and have also been proven effective by managers across multiple sectors.
APMG International is thrilled that the University of Westminster will offer these groundbreaking programmes to their clients to advance management practice everywhere.”
Co-founders of Notion, Dominic Ashley-Timms and Laura Ashley-Timms said:
“Once you become a manager, learning to engage effectively with people is vital. Yet, according to the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), 82% of managers in the UK are classified as ‘accidental managers’ promoted to leadership roles for reasons other than their people management skills. We need to change this. As a line manager, the core of your role should be enabling other people’s talents. When you have a group of managers who all share that same mindset and can engage with people intentionally using an Operational Coaching® style, cultures positively change, and you unlock the massive potential of everyone to drive engagement, productivity and performance.
Our team is proud to partner with the University of Westminster to expand the global STAR® certifications for Operational Coaching® to a wider audience.”
The STAR® Coach Practitioner and Certified STAR® Manager Practitioner programmes will launch at the University of Westminster in March 2025. For more information, please visit https://www.westminster.ac.uk/business-and-management-short-courses/business-and-management/operational-coachingr-part-1-starr-coach-practitioner and https://www.westminster.ac.uk/business-and-management-short-courses/business-and-management/operational-coachingr-parts-1-and-2-certified-starr-manager-practitioner.
About the University of Westminster
The University of Westminster, established as London’s first polytechnic in 1838, provides a vibrant and diverse learning environment for over 21,000 students from 170 nations.
Ranked in the UK’s top 20 and globally in the top 30 for international students (Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2024), it’s also recognized in the top 15% of universities worldwide for contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
The university offers highly-rated, practice-based courses, many with international recognition, preparing graduates for professional life. Global engagement, employability, and sustainability are central to its mission.
About Notion
Notion is a globally renowned performance improvement consultancy founded in 2000. Its innovative STAR® model – used by FTSE and Fortune 500 companies – is a new management behavioural model designed to tackle the global engagement crisis and revolutionise the purpose of management and coaching.
Its co-founders, Dominic Ashley-Timms and Laura Ashley-Timms, developed the groundbreaking methodology to help leaders integrate Operational Coaching® skills into their day-to-day management style, leading to higher levels of staff engagement, productivity, performance and retention.
For more information, please visit: https://starmanager.global or email/call: [email protected] / +44 (0)1926 889 885.
About APMG
APMG International is a global accreditation body specialising in professional certifications to help individuals and businesses deliver best practice solutions. Our portfolio includes a host of industry recognised certifications. During the past 30 years APMG International has worked with over 550 Accredited Training Organizations and Scheme Owners across the globe. Over 3 million candidates from 130 countries have taken an APMG accredited certification in 22 languages. Our examinations are rigorous, challenging and consistent so that candidates can be proud of their achievement. www.apmg-international.com
