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Free training for Dorset employees as part of Skills Support for the Workforce

Weymouth

FREE training worth £3 million is on offer for businesses in Dorset to help boost skills and drive the local economy. Small and medium sized enterprises are being urged to take advantage of the skills training for their workforce.

Firms in key sectors such as engineering, manufacturing, food and drink, and creative industries could benefit from the scheme through bespoke training courses and qualifications.
It is available as part of Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW), which Serco’s Employment, Skills & Enterprise business has been selected to manage across Dorset and which is co-funded by the European Social Fund and the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
It involves Serco working with Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to address skills gaps and offer free training opportunities to support growth across the local economy.
Serco has partnered with expert training providers to offer businesses a range of fully-funded accredited qualifications and bespoke training courses aimed at enhancing employees’ skills and increasing the competitiveness of businesses.
Businesses can select full qualifications or mix and match units that are directly relevant to their work.
The courses range from a few hours’ training, to units of NVQ or other qualifications. Previous programme participants have benefited from increased employee confidence, motivation and productivity and improved employee loyalty.
The programme will focus on supporting businesses in priority sectors:
Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing (aerospace, defence & marine)
Agri-tech, Food & Drink
Creative Industries
Environmental Goods & Services
Financial Services
Accommodation & Food Services
Manufacturing
Public Administration, Education & Health
Wholesale, Retail, Motor Trades
Gareth Moss, Serco’s Director for Employment, Skills and Enterprise, said: “Developing employees’ skills is a vital part of building a successful business. We’d urge local employers to take advantage of this brilliant opportunity to strengthen the skills of their workforce through training which is not only fully-funded, but also designed to meet their specific needs.”
Tony Nelson, Skills Policy Manager at Dorset LEP, said: “Investing in your people raises productivity and improves the customer experience. I strongly encourage SMEs in our key sectors to take advantage of this training opportunity.”
Businesses can email skillssupport@serco.com for more details and to find out if they are eligible for funded training through Skills Support for the Workforce. The deadline to use funds in July 2018.