Training opportunities

During the economic crisis, one of the first cutbacks are usually staff training.  However, the competitiveness of your business is vital during such hard times, and remaining staff must be trained to face the new challenges ahead. 

It is also required to give staff you are making redundant time off to find other work.  There are various support agencies to help make this transaction easier for businesses and individuals.

Training in times of economic downturn

To help your business succeed in this time of economic challenge, it is vital that you invest in skills. Employers who don’t train are 2.5 times more likely to fail than those who do.  Training can help your business by:

  • Increasing productivity
  • Increasing competitiveness 
  • Improving remaining staff moral
  • Lowering staff turnover

For more information on the benefits of training, visit the Train to Gain website for Yorkshire and the Humber or call 0800 015 55 45.

Train to Gain

Train to Gain is the national skills service that support employers of all sizes and in all sectors like you to improve the skills of your employees as a route to improving your business performance.  The service offers skills advice on everything from basic skills through to leadership and management training.

The Enhancement Fund has improved the Train to Gain service in Yorkshire and the Humber allowing more flexibility to the courses delivered and 100% subsidy for workers who are facing redundancy.   To find out if your staff are eligible to receive funding from the Enhancement Fund visit the enhancement fund website or call 01422 357 357.

For more information on what the Train to Gain service is and how to get involved, see the Train to Gain Engage website.  Train to Gain Engage is the website for employer engagement staff, training providers and anyone else working to engage employers in the service.

Skills Brokerage

Business Link are now responsible for providing a skills brokerage service to help businesses to access training and support.

74% of employers who have used the Skills Brokerage have seen an improvement in job related skills levels. Business Link Yorkshire offers free, impartial, one-to-one advice that's tailored to your business's needs. Their skills brokers will help you to:

  • Identify the skills that will benefit your business
  • Create a tailored package of training and support
  • Find reliable local training providers
  • Find funding to support your own investment
  • Help you to access any funding or subsidy that you may be eligible for
  • Evaluate the training and support to ensure your business benefits

For more information or to contact a Skills Broker call Business Link on 08456 048 048 or visit www.businesslinkyorkshire.co.uk

Skills Pledge

The Skills Pledge is a voluntary commitment to support all your employees to develop their basic skills, including literacy and numeracy, and work towards valuable qualifications to at least Level 2 (equates to at least 5 good GCSE’s). 

The purpose is to ensure that all staff are skilled, competent and able to make a full contribution to the success of your organisation.  This is an opportunity to business leaders to publicly demonstrate the importance they place on investing in people.   More information can be found at the Investors in People website.

For businesses to compete on a global scale, it is vital that UK businesses can improve the productivity of their workforce.  To find out how your business can sign the Skills Pledge visit www.lsc.gov.uk/skillspledge or call 0845 8333 7000.