40 Years of IPS!
40 years of IPS: How Did We Get Here?
Today marks a huge milestone for all of us at IPS... 40 years! That's four decades of training, development, partnerships and most importantly, people!
Some of you won't know the history, so it's worth going back to the very beginning for some light reading. After all, how many of us really know the full story of IPS?
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Ramsay Cowan reflects on that moment by saying:
"40 years ago, today (31/03/1986), I was travelling down from Glasgow..."
Ramsay joined Sheerness Steel on 1st April 1986 to set up what would become the North Kent Technology Skills Centre (NKTSC).
Little did he know just how much that journey would go on to shape not only his future, but the future of so many others. That moment marked the beginning of something that would grow into the organisation we all know today.
So, as we celebrate 40 years... let's consider how we got here...
It Started with a Problem
Back in the mid-80s, industry had a challenge with businesses needing skilled people, but the advanced technical training available wasn’t linked with what employers needed for their workforce.
That's when Sheerness Steel established the North Kent Technology Skills Centre (NKTSC) in the Old Courthouse building in Sheerness.
From the very beginning, IPS was built on a simple but powerful idea where training should meet real business needs and not just theory for the sake of it.
Instead, qualifications would be delivered through practical, meaningful learning that developed real capability and delivered results.
A Clear Philosophy from the Start
Even in those early years, there was a clear belief about what would drive success:
Information. People. Systems.
Simple in principle, powerful in practice. Over time, those three words didn't just guide the business, they became its identity to give us the name of IPS.
And that philosophy of Information, People and Systems still sits at the heart of what we do today.
Building the Foundations
As the organisation began to grow, key people joined who would help shape its future.
Mike joined in 1989 as Training Manager for the Steelworks, before moving into NKTSC in the early 1990s.
Shortly after, Don joined the team bringing with him significant experience as the Principal Electrical Engineer at Sheerness Steel since the mid-1970s.
These were people with deep industry knowledge and that connection to real-world practice became a defining system of IPS.
A Defining Step into Apprenticeships
A major turning point came in 1992, when IPS entered the world of engineering apprenticeships.
This began with the purchase of the Reed Paper Group’s apprentice training centre in Aylesford which was acquired for just £1!
With the support of Medway Council, the centre was relocated to Rochester and from that point, IPS expanded rapidly into the wider range of apprenticeship programmes we deliver today.
This wasn’t just growth; it was a shift that would define the future direction of the organisation.
It didn’t take long for this approach to gain momentum and by the late 1980s and early 1990s, IPS was expanding into management training, delivering some of the first NVQs in IT and engineering and growing its presence across Kent.
This wasn’t growth for the sake of it. Employers were seeing the impact and that demand naturally drove the organisation forward.
More Than Training
Very early on, IPS became known for more than just delivering courses; it was now helping organisations to make improvements.
Work began to include supporting cultural change, improvement of productivity and helping businesses think differently about how they developed their people leading to not just a focus on learning but results too.
From Kent to the World
By the early 1990s, IPS had moved beyond its local roots and training and consultancy were being delivered across the UK, into Europe and internationally including the likes of Malaysia, South Africa, Australia, India and North America.
In many cases, IPS teams were involved in training entire workforces and supporting the launch of major industrial operations.
A Learning Organisation
One of the strongest themes throughout IPS history is its commitment to learning for not just learners, but for staff as well. There has always been an expectation that development doesn’t stop no matter who.
People are encouraged to build their skills, grow in their roles and contribute to the wider success of the organisation and at its core, there’s a simple belief:
The better the people, the better our business can be.
Evolving with Industry
As industries changed, IPS adapted alongside them. The organisation expanded its facilities, delivery included Health and Social Care and Early Years and developed new training approaches to built long-term partnerships with major employers.
The creation of IPS International marked another step forward bringing together consultancy and training to support businesses on a wider scale, nationally and globally.
The business didn’t stand still then, and it still doesn’t now.
People at the Centre
Through all of this, one thing has remained constant and that’s the people. IPS has always been about developing individuals, creating opportunities and supporting progression.
Behind every programme and every qualification is someone whose life or career has been impacted and that’s what makes the difference.
So... How Did We Get Here?
We got here by staying focused on what matters.
- Solving real problems.
- Working closely with industry.
- Continuously improving.
- Investing in people.
- Staff
- Employers and the communities we’re part of.
40 Years Later
Today, IPS looks very different to the organisation that started in the courthouse in Sheerness.
But at its core, it remains the same.
We’re a business built on relevant, high-quality training, strong relationships with employers, a commitment to continuous improvement and a belief that what we do makes a real difference.
So, while today is about celebrating the last 40 years...
The next chapter is still to be written.