Over 1,400 people in Tees Valley have benefited from free skills training through a programme to support businesses in upskilling employees, raising productivity and boosting business growth.
Since the £3.2 million Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) fund was made available last year, over 500 businesses have taken advantage of the opportunity for their staff to gain professional training across a range of skills and sectors.
The scheme is designed to specifically give SMEs in Tees Valley the chance to upskill their workforce, to fill the region’s skills gaps and provide employees with valuable expertise and knowledge to enhance business success.
Sue Dawson, regional development manager of the SSW project in Tees Valley, said: “It is brilliant to see our programme help even more businesses following the extension of the project earlier this year.
“Businesses from all sectors in the area are benefiting from upskilling their staff, including increasing staff motivation and improving productivity levels – all as a result of engaging their employees through challenging but rewarding training. Funding is only available until March 2019, so we would strongly encourage other businesses to take advantage while it’s there.”
Working with the Tees Valley Combined Authority, SSW’s local training providers have courses covering a wide range of employability skills, as well as specific courses across the Combined Authority’s priority sectors: advanced manufacturing/engineering, business and professional services, digital and creative, energy, construction, culture and leisure, health and biologics, chemical processing, low carbon and logistics.
Cllr Christopher Akers-Belcher, Combined Authority Cabinet Lead for Education, Employment and Skills, said: “We have excellent training available for employees and businesses in the area and we are delighted with the high numbers that have engaged so far. There is still funding available but there’s not a lot of time left, so we would really like to reach out to all employers across the region and encourage them to take advantage of the opportunity.”
Delivered by Calderdale College – one of the country’s largest providers of European Social Fund funded training – through local providers, the training is for businesses based in the Local Enterprise Partnership area.
