Informa Connect Academy, in partnership with EFQM, launches the full suite of certified programmes to drive sustainable performance improvement

Dubai, UAE, May 1st, 2025
Informa Connect Academy, in partnership with EFQM, is set to launch the EFQM Certified Business Transformation Leader (BTL) Pathway – a strategic initiative designed to develop future-ready leaders capable of driving sustainable organisational excellence. This expansion brings EFQM’s high-impact training to the Middle East, United Kingdom, and Australia.
The BTL qualification prepares leaders with the most holistic, credible, and internationally recognised framework, tools, and methodologies available for long-term performance improvement. Rooted in data gathered from thousands of EFQM assessments, the training leverages both quantitative and qualitative insights, supported by the EFQM Model’s RADAR diagnostic and global best practices.
Participants in this pathway go beyond short-term project wins. They build the ability to embed continuous change, align strategy with culture and execution, and deliver outcomes that create value for all stakeholders.
Delivered as a multi-level learning journey, the pathway includes four progressive stages: Foundation, Practitioner, Expert, and ultimately, Master. Each stage is purposefully designed to strengthen practical capabilities in assessment, performance improvement, change, and sustainability.
Professionals can earn certifications including the EFQM Excellence Expert, Improvement Expert, Change Expert, and Sustainability Expert. By completing any three expert tracks, participants are awarded the EFQM Business Transformation Leader Certification – a mark of their readiness to lead with clarity, strategy, and measurable impact.
Whether organisations are preparing for transformation, aiming to enhance performance, or focused on building a culture of excellence, the pathway enables professionals to specialise across four key tracks:
A Certified Excellence Expert is equipped with the knowledge, expertise, and tools to objectively assess organisational performance, identify key opportunities, and guide their organisation to sustainable performance using the EFQM Model.
A Certified Improvement Expert is equipped with the skills and tools to embed a culture of continual improvement throughout the organisation, ensuring positive benefits are sustained over the long term.
A Certified Change Expert is equipped with the skills and tools to manage organisational change, ensuring the organisation remains competitive in the rapidly evolving market environment.
A Certified Sustainability Expert is equipped with the tools to apply The EFQM Model to integrate sustainability into their organisation’s operations, from finance to environmental practices, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations
Trusted by International brands like BMW, Bosch, Abu Dhabi Police, Signify and more, the EFQM framework helps professionals assess where an organisation stands—benchmarked against thousands of companies—so transformation can be led from within.
“At Informa Connect Academy, our goal is to help people and organisations build capabilities that truly last,” said Leigh Kendall, Director of Learning at Informa Connect Academy. “These EFQM certifications offer professionals the chance to apply proven, data-driven frameworks to real-world challenges. This partnership with EFQM goes beyond training—it’s about empowering leaders to make better decisions, drive innovation, and lead their organisations towards sustainable, long-term success.”
Participants will gain not only technical expertise but also the strategic mindset to navigate complexity, measure impact, and embed continuous improvement at every level of the organisation.
“The EFQM training pathway builds future-focused leaders who can deliver lasting impact across strategy, operations, and culture,” said Russel Longmuir, CEO at EFQM. “We are excited to work with Informa Connect Academy to extend our global reach and help organisations thrive in today’s evolving landscape.”
For more information and enrolment details, visit EFQM Courses