Posted: 30 April 2026
University Campus Doncaster (UCDon) has officially launched its new FdA in Management, marking an important milestone in developing future leaders for Doncaster and the wider region, as well as a new direction for higher education in business and management at DN Colleges Group.
The foundation degree in Management was launched during a lively lunchtime event on 23 April at The Hub, bringing together employers, professionals, students and aspiring managers. The event focused on leadership, career progression and real‑world management skills, creating a strong sense of energy and purpose through networking and discussion around the future of modern management in the region.
Launch event welcomes employers, students and aspiring managers
The event was opened by Jay Blackburn, HE Business Team Leader, who welcomed guests and outlined the vision behind the new management degree. He highlighted the importance of practical, accessible routes into management and the programme’s strong alignment with employer needs and workplace realities.
Jay said: “This new programme isn’t just about gaining a qualification, it’s about building confidence, leadership behaviours and real‑world skills that employers value. We’re proud to be launching a course that supports progression and prepares learners for modern workplaces.”
A foundation degree designed for real‑world management
The FdA in Management has been designed to reflect the realities of today’s working environment. The programme focuses on key areas including leadership behaviours, communication, problem‑solving, ethical decision‑making and professional confidence.
By placing an emphasis on applied learning, the course supports both aspiring managers and those already in employment, enabling students to connect academic study directly to their professional roles and career ambitions.
Keynote on leadership and managing conflict under pressure
The highlight of the launch event was a keynote session from Darren England, FIFA, UEFA and Premier League Referee/VAR, who delivered an engaging talk titled “Managing Conflict in a Fast‑Paced Environment.”
Drawing on elite‑level experience, Darren explored how effective leaders remain calm under pressure, communicate clearly and make confident decisions in challenging situations, skills that are central to successful management across all industries.
Darren commented, “Pressure is inevitable in leadership. What matters is how you respond, staying calm, being clear and trusting your judgement. That’s what allows leaders to manage conflict constructively and lead with confidence.”
Interactive Q&A linked industry insight to the curriculum
The keynote was followed by an interactive audience Q&A session hosted by Dr Craig Winstanley, Curriculum Leader of HE Business. The discussion linked Darren’s real‑world experiences directly to the leadership and management skills embedded within the FdA in Management curriculum. Craig added, “This event showcased our new Foundation Degree in Management, the first of its kind in Doncaster. The degree offers a real‑world, applied learning experience, strengthened by strong industry connections. Darren’s journey of leading and managing people and conflict under pressure was a powerful example of leadership in action.”
Student experience: Building confidence for the future
Students in attendance also found the event highly motivating. Joanna, a first‑year University Campus North Lincolnshire (UCNL) Business student, highlighted the value of hearing from industry professionals and seeing how leadership theory applies in practice, commenting, “Listening to Darren talk about managing pressure made leadership feel real and achievable. It’s made me feel more confident about my studies, my current business, and progressing into future roles with new team members and clients.”
A supportive pathway into leadership and management
The launch highlighted the supportive and practical approach behind the two‑year FdA, which is designed to help students build confidence, develop essential management skills and take positive steps towards their future careers.
By combining academic learning with industry insight and practical leadership development, the programme supports students in understanding how what they learn applies directly to everyday working life.
Whether learners are taking their first steps into management or looking to develop existing experience, the foundation degree at UCDon offers a clear and flexible pathway into leadership, progression and further study.
Find out more about the FdA in Management at University Campus Doncaster and how the programme can support your next step into management.
