The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has rolled out its new flagship service Train to Gain, which will help businesses in Sussex get the training they need to succeed.
Train to Gain will make growing businesses in Sussex more competitive by giving them access to a free 'Skills Broker' service through Skills South East, a partnership of the six Business Link service providers and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA). This builds upon the existing brokerage network that has been available in the area over the last two years.
This broker will act just like a personal trainer, assessing business skills needs, drawing up a 'fitness' plan and putting businesses in touch with local skills providers that can help get businesses in shape for the future and sharpen their competitive edge. In Sussex, this will be led by Central Sussex College with a consortium of 21 training providers delivering a wide range of training in IT, manufacturing and engineering, retail, health, construction and business / finance.
David Smith, Area Director for LSC Sussex, said: "Train to Gain is a dynamic new way of working with employers and is designed to put their businesses' skills development needs first and ensure that the delivery of training is much more responsive to their needs. We know that across Sussex 25% of adults in the workforce lack the basic Level 2 qualification, equivalent to 5 good GCSEs - the minimum set of skills and competencies needed to get on in working life. This compares to 21% in Surrey and 29% in Hampshire. Clearly this skills gap has implications for businesses in Sussex. Train to Gain plugs this gap and provides business-led training."
Helyn Soud, Skills Broker in the Sussex region, said: "These days in a competitive business market it is the survival of the fittest. Skills Brokers can help you by kick-starting your fitness campaign so that your people are skilled and ready to meet the challenges ahead."
The Sussex consortium provides training at a time and place to suit local businesses, with the majority of clients being new employers or those previously not engaged in training. As well as free advice from Skills Brokers, much of the training qualifies for a Government subsidy; including basic reading, writing and maths, first full Level 2 qualifications and apprenticeships - meaning that businesses aren't out of pocket. However, some training, such as management development, will need to be paid for by the employer.
Marie Harris, Head of Employer Services at Central Sussex College, said: "We are delighted to have been given responsibility for leading the Train to Gain consortium in this area and are looking forward to providing the high-quality training necessary for employers to improve the skills of their employees. Areas we cover include IT, manufacturing and engineering, retail, health, construction and business / finance. Train to Gain presents an opportunity to respond to the skills and training needs of local employers and, in doing so, build long term relationships and trust."
LSC research shows that nearly a third (29%) of employers in Sussex have not invested in vocational, apprenticeship or NVQ training over the last 12 months. Across the South East this is close behind the highest take-up in Hampshire and Isle of Wight (28%) and the lowest in Milton Keynes (39%).
Train to Gain will engage with 16,000 employers and 54,000 learners in the South East by August 2008. To find out more about getting your business 'fit' please call Train to Gain on 0845 751 2288 or email info@traintogainse.co.uk or visit Train to Gain at: http://www.traintogain.gov.uk
http://www.gos.gov.uk/gose/news/466623/
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