Invest Telford unveil raft of new support for businesses to boost skills
Invest Telford launched its Skills for Growth initiative to businesses at a packed event which revealed new funding for skills, training and apprenticeships.
The Skills Support Showcase was attended by around 80 people keen tohear about the raft of measures being introduced to address challenges facingemployers looking to recruit, retain and train their workforce.
Around £1m of funding will be available to employers with Telford &Wrekin Council also introducing an Apprenticeship Levy Transfer scheme, whichwill cover the employer cost of an apprentice being taken on by a business orcommunity interest company.
Emma Williams, HR Manager, of Halesfield-based Hyve Solutions, welcomedthe additional support.
“Knowing that we can use the apprenticeship levy to help upskill ourexisting workforce has now opened doors to multiple training solutions to helpus invest in our people even more,” she added.
Katherine Kynaston, Director of Housing, Economy and Infrastructure toldthe event held at the New Bucks Head, that as well as direct assistance tobusinesses, the authority’s investment in Station Quarter was key to meetingthe skills challenge in the borough.
“Our partnership with Telford College and Harper Adams University willsee a new Digital Skills and Enterprise Hub created in the heart of Telford –opening even more doors to businesses keen to recruit, train and upskill localpeople.”
The event heard from Shropshire Chamber of Commerce’s Director of Business,Matthew Lowe, on ongoing work to research skills needs in the region as part ofthe Government’s Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) initiative.
And Invest Telford’s Skills Specialist Louise Harding invited businessesto learn more about the council’s Job Box scheme and Work Local programme,which introduces Telford’s businesses into the borough’s communities.
Councillor Eileen Callear (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council’s CabinetMember for Education, Employment and Visitor Economy, said: “This event was agreat chance to bring together businesses, training providers, further andhigher education partners, all together in one place.
“We are all aware of the challenges which exist and our Skills SupportShowcase was an opportunity to engage directly with employers about how we canhelp them, including through our Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Scheme and UKShared Prosperity Fund projects.”
Graham Wynn OBE, Chairman of the borough’s UK Shared Prosperity FundPanel, opened the event which also heard from Andy Smith, founder ofaward-winning business Smash Life. Andy uses his life in the care system andsuccess as an entrepreneur to deliver motivational business advice andtraining.
The event - part of the Thrive Telford business support programme, wasfunded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
