Training & Skills

New From January 2009 - Better Train to Gain Services for Smaller Businesses

Training and financial support available to help businesses survive

Small and medium sized businesses are now able to access additional help to train their staff, through a more flexible Train to Gain package.  The government has pledged more help for smaller businesses because, in the words of Chris Banks, chair of the Learning and Skills Council, ‘We know that businesses which don’t invest in training are two-and-a-half times more likely to fail. Without doubt this extra money and support for smaller businesses really could make the difference between success and failure. We urge all employers to take advantage of it.’

What’s available?

The measures, available since the start of January, include:

• Free and part-funded bite-size training courses in areas that make quick returns to a business.  There are eligible courses in:
  - finance and credit
  - profit management
  - risk management
  - business systems and processes
  - team working and communications
  - sales and marketing
  - IT
  - customer service
• Full funding for basic skills courses, funding for Level 2 qualifications (equivalent to 5 GCSEs), even, in some cases, for those who already have this level of qualification, more funding for Level 3 courses (equivalent to two A Levels) and some funding for level 4 qualifications for some 19-25 year olds who don’t already have Level 3
• Funding for sector-specific training – for courses that relate to the sector you work in such as catering courses, hospitality courses, housekeeping and so on
• Train to Gain’s leadership and management programme was extended to smaller businesses last November.  Businesses with between five and 250 employees can access up to £1,000 in funding for areas such as coaching and mentoring or working towards a qualification.
• Funding for Apprenticeships is also available

Out of hours training and wage compensation

To minimise disturbing the business’ normal running, training can completed at the most convenient time and place for the employer – this could be onsite or even at the weekend. Also, organisations with less than 50 employees can receive a contribution to wage costs to cover the cost of working-time spent training.

Redundancy training and support

For those facing redundancy, and their employers, help, support and guidance is now available.

How have other businesses been helped?

More than 100,000 businesses have been helped by Train to Gain so far.  These include a wide range of businesses, of all sizes (from sole traders to those with more than 1,000 employees) across all sectors.  Some examples are:

• A small Newcastle-based business was helped with diagnostics, advice, course finding, training subsidies and wage compensation  to enable three employees to get  a Level 2 qualification (equivalent to five good GCSEs) in IT skills, which included emails, email marketing, customer databases and good practice.
• A hotel chain was helped to work with a training provider to develop their existing internal training program so that it encompassed Level 2 qualifications.  After 18 months more than fifteen staff completed NVQs in Customer Service, Professional Cooking and Management.
• A large zoo was helped with free skills assessments to help identify the training needs of individual members of staff, and how these fitted in with where the zoo wanted to take its business.  Fourteen members of staff then went on to do courses in customer service – improving their communication, time management and personal organisation – and other subjects like retail, team leadership and business administration.

How can you access the help?

There are two ways you can get the help

• Contact a skills broker who will help you understand what training you, your staff and your business need to survive and improve
• Contact a college or training provider to find out what courses are available under the scheme

What is a skills broker?

A skills broker is a trained member of staff who uses tried and trusted diagnostic methods to identify your training needs, so you invest in the training that will give your business the best chance of improving and succeeding.  They also have detailed knowledge of the funding rules and available training, so they help you match your training needs with reputable courses and training providers, and help you identify grants and finance to meet the costs.  They will also help you to review the effects of the training so you can measure the impact on your business.

How you can find out more

• Contact a skills broker on 0800 015 55 45
• Visit  www.traintogain.gov.uk
• Contact your local college or training provider
• Also take a look at UKSP - the UK Skills Passport website from People 1st, the tourism, hospitality and leisure Skills Sector Council.  They have a searchable database of tourism and leisure courses, and a list of registered providers, plus they have a funding hotline