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Three staff members at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council have been awarded a Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management. Wilma Warburton, Michael McCreesh and Margaret Rodgers received their Institute of Leadership Management (ILM) awards at Southern Regional College's annual graduation ceremony at Armagh City Hotel.
The trio attended an online learning course one day each week between September 2025 and March this year to complete the qualification. Wilma Warburton is a Digital Marketing Officer with responsibility for Tourism, Product Development and Visitor Experience, while Margaret Rodgers and Michael McCreesh are Business Support Managers in Planning and Waste Refuse and Cleansing respectively.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Glyn Hanna, said the Council was committed to supporting staff development. "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."
The Council supports staff through leadership development as part of its corporate training programme and via the Employee Qualification Assistance (EQA) scheme through the Learning and Development Team. Leadership development forms part of the organisation's wider Human Resources and Organisation Development strategy, aimed at creating an environment where employees can grow and reach their full potential in their careers.
Warburton had already gained experience through her role and completed a management degree, but 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."
Rodgers who has 20 years' service with the Council, was delighted to complete the Level 5 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."
McCreesh has worked 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.
All three are encouraging colleagues interested in career development to explore the range of learning opportunities available through the Council's corporate training programme or the EQA scheme, where a variety of courses are available to help staff acquire new skills and qualifications to support their personal and professional growth.
