Melcrum's Black Belt 'Accredited Internal Communicator' Programme welcomed by industry experts
London, April 2011 - The Accredited Internal Communicator Programme, recently launched under the Black Belt brand by internal communications experts Melcrum, has been hailed by leading industry experts as vital to the development of recognised professional standards in internal communication.
Victoria Mellor, CEO of Melcrum explains, ‘We knew from the word go that our new Black Belt ‘Accredited Internal Communicator’ (AIC) Programme would be in great demand, but it’s good to know that the world’s leading internal communicators are also backing this new venture.’
Many industry experts from around the world have welcomed the course.
David Molian, Director of the Business Growth Programme at Cranfield School of Management, comments: ‘ Melcrum has been a pioneer in the field of internal communications, driving to raise standards and levels of professionalism wherever possible. The AIC initiative is yet another example of Melcrum's innovative leadership and focus on achieving practical outcomes for its clients, a philosophy which we fully share.’
Nigel Edwards, Communication Director, Pfizer, says, ‘In an era when markets are changing at even greater pace, organisations are endeavouring to become increasingly agile. I am a firm believer of the power of effective internal communication in equipping organisations to be more competitive. The achievement of these higher levels of performance demands more highly skilled communicators and the introduction of high quality programmes, such as this, are valued and welcomed.’
Charlie Nordblom, Vice President, Strategic Internal Communications, Volvo Group, says,
‘I believe we are at a crossroads for our profession where we have to move from being focused on simply controlling our channels and flows of information, to becoming more strategic in communicating, and we need to help people in the profession develop to this effect. The AIC Programme gives us peace of mind that when we employ communicators, we know they have the necessary skills to excel.’
For Jack Winters, Head of Communications - Operations at BAA, ‘The Black Belt AIC Programme is a great step forward in raising the standard in internal communications. As with many other professions, we need to define a standard that we expect our internal communicators to be capable of, and then assess their ability in that context. The new AIC Programme meets that goal - it ensures the skills and knowledge learnt in the Black Belt Programme are being correctly applied in real life business scenarios. This will help ensure that the internal communications standard is raised to a consistently high level - we will know that someone who has successfully completed the AIC Programme is capable of developing and delivering communication strategies to support business goals.’
Anthea Cudworth, Head of IC, KPMG (Australia) says, ‘With the growing influence of internal communication roles in the private and public sectors, practitioners value qualifications that reflect the function's credibility. The introduction of a tailored accreditation qualification that guarantees a graduate's ability to meet our expectations is an important asset.’
Dan Pryor of Safeway, says, ‘On behalf of Safeway Inc., I am thrilled to be a member of Melcrum’s AIC Accreditation Board. As someone who has been through the programme, I have a true appreciation for the intrinsic value acquired through the Black Belt curriculum. Those who successfully complete this exciting new qualification will surely set the bar for future generations of communicators.’
The AIC Programme is available to communicators who have completed Black Belt 1 in the UK and Europe. The cost to participate in the AIC Programme is £795. Full details of course content and requirements can be found at http://www.melcrum.com/blackbelt_aic
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About Melcrum
Melcrum, a privately held research and training business, is the leading authority on best practice, emerging trends and strategy in internal communication.
Melcrum advises internal communication leaders at 69% of the Global Fortune 100 largest organisations and 84% of the FTSE 100. Through independent research and executive education, Melcrum helps internal communicators achieve the rewards and recognition they deserve.
With global networks and offices in the UK, USA and Australia, Melcrum researchers and editors spend their time meeting and talking to practitioners to find out where the best work gets done. Melcrum makes these tools, techniques, and case studies available to its members through publications, research, events, forums and web sites.
For further information about Melcrum visit www.melcrum.com or contact:
Victoria Mellor, CEO, Melcrum
T: +44 (0) 7357 8888
E: victoria.mellor@melcrum.com
