Skillstories

CBI - British people need to be made more employable

British people need to be made more employable if the government wants more of them to have jobs, the CBI warned today.

Opinion - Terry Watts, Chief Executive of Proskills

It is essential that more companies within process and manufacturing join with Proskills to respond to the challenge of providing appropriate training and development to the industry.

Building on solid foundations at Shaylor

A commitment to staff training may earn companies plaudits in terms of industrial relations, but one Midlands construction firm will tell you that, actually, improving the skills of its workforce also makes plain business sense.

Aldridge-based Shaylor Construction is currently working with Stourbridge College to put 10 employees through level four NVQ in Construction Site Management via the Learning and Skills Council’s Train to Gain service.

The 10 are building their portfolios as part of their on site assessment and training - and Darren Cobb, Shaylor Construction’s group safety manager, has no doubts about the value it will bring to the company and the individual.

Darren said: “We shouldn’t underestimate the impression it gives our clients. It says not only do we develop our staff, but we offer them strong training.

“Once people gain those skills there’s a formal record we can show to third parties and customers.”

Staff skills blossoming at Tulip

Staff at food processing company Tulip are blossoming, thanks to a new training programme. Staff have been given the opportunity to increase their skill levels, and have been funded by the company.

After voluntarily signing a skills pledge, all 2,000 staff from the Bugle, Bodmin and Redruth sites will be trained in food and drink manufacturing to NVQ Level 2 standard.

Christine Powell, Tulip’s divisional human relations manager, said: “We are delighted to be recognised for our commitment to training as we firmly believe in allowing all of our staff the chance to develop their skills and gain qualifications.

“Some of our staff left school without any qualifications and never thought they would gain any in the workplace, but now they are very enthusiastic about their new skills and the training provided.”

Tulip has teamed up with Cornwall College Business and brokerage service Train to Gain, to provide their new training scheme.

Camelot pulls scratchcard amid numerical anarchy

Camelot has withdrawn its short-lived "Cool Cash" scratchcard after it required a higher than absolute zero grasp of how numbers work to understand it.

New skills leader Chris Humphries pledges his team ‘means business’

New skills supremo Chris Humphries has vowed his team will "give it their best shot" in working with employers to solve the UK’s skills crisis.

"Learners are amazed at how much their skills improve"

monthly feature on the work of union learning reps

The skill of training staff

TEES Valley employers and training providers attended a boardroom breakfast at the Evening Gazette recently to discuss the importance of skills development for employees.

New UK agency to help unskilled get ahead

A new agency that would help low-paid unskilled workers get better jobs is to be set up in the next three years

European Social Fund invests £151 million in jobs and skills in the South East

James Plaskitt, the Minister for ESF has welcomed a £151 million investment in jobs and skills in the South East over the next seven years from the European Social Fund (ESF).