Council Staff Awarded Leadership and Management Certificates

Three Newry, Mourne and Down District Council staff have been awarded a Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management.

The Council is delighted to support staff through leadership development as part of the corporate training programme and via the Employee Qualification Assistance scheme through the L&D Team.

Leadership Development continues to form a crucial part of the organisation’s wider Human Resources and Organisation Development strategy focused on creating an environment where every employee can grow and thrive in their career and reach their full potential.

Wilma Warburton, Michael McCreesh and Margaret Rodgers were presented with their Institute of Leadership Management (ILM) awards at the Southern Regional College’s annual graduation ceremony at Armagh City Hotel after completing the course. The trio attended an online learning course one day each week between September 2025 and March this year.

Wilma is a Digital Marketing Officer with responsibility for Tourism, Product Development and Visitor Experience while Margaret and Michael are Business Support Managers in Planning and Waste Refuse and Cleansing respectively.

Grateful for the Council’s support, the staff are encouraging colleagues across the organisation interested in career development to explore the wide range of learning opportunities available through the Council’s corporate training programme or via the Employee Qualification Assistance (EQA) scheme where a variety of courses are available to acquire new skills and qualifications to support personal and professional growth.

While Wilma had already gained experience through her role and completed a management degree, she felt it important to continue building on her knowledge and qualifications.

“Having successfully completed the Level 3 Leadership and Management qualification last year, progressing to Level 5 felt like a natural step. Completing both qualifications has been a significant personal achievement,” she said.

“The course strengthened my skills, broadened my knowledge and boosted my confidence. Balancing study with work and a busy household showed me that gaining a recognised qualification is possible with determination. I’d encourage others to take advantage of all the learning opportunities available through Council. They are a great way to gain new skills, qualifications and confidence.”

After 20 years with the Council, Margaret was delighted to complete the Level 5 Leadership and Management course.

“I felt it was a great fit for both my current role and future career aspirations. Although studying while working full-time was challenging at times, it was incredibly rewarding to come out the other side with a recognised qualification. The course helped build my confidence, strengthen my leadership and management skills and support my ongoing personal and professional development. The experience was a huge time commitment, but totally worth it in the end.

“I would encourage anyone considering career development to explore the learning opportunities available. They can provide valuable skills, qualifications and experience that can make a real difference to both personal growth and career progression.”

Michael has been working in the public sector since January 2020 progressing from administrative assistant to business support manager.

“To support my career development within the Council, I completed the ILM Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management course in-house in February 2023, followed by the ILM Level 5 qualification in March through the support of the EQA scheme. These opportunities have enabled me to further develop my leadership and management skills, while taking on greater responsibilities,” he said.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Glyn Hanna said, “We are committed to providing our staff with opportunities to gain recognised qualifications and supporting them with their studies to help progress their careers and learn new skills. Congratulations to Wilma, Margaret and Michael.”