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Digital
Businesses urged to capitalise on Training Support
The
University of Hull's New Technology Institute (nti), is
urging businesses in Hull & the Humber to access money
for staff training before the funding ceases in March 2006.
The
training brokerage service, funded by Yorkshire Forward,
has been running for just over two years and has seen businesses
in the area gain more than £500,000 in funding for
staff training.
Gill
Cutting, the Digital Industries Skills Broker explains:
"Our aim is to promote the benefits of staff training
to those businesses operating in the digital and ICT sectors.
We have already engaged many companies across the region.
Nearly 50% of the companies benefiting from this funding
have never previously funded any staff training initiatives
- it had always been expected that staff participated in
training programmes during their own time and at their own
expense."
"This
initiative offers 50/50 funding for employee training where
the employer's contribution to training is matched by money
available from Yorkshire Forward. Access to this funding
has made an enormous difference to the productivity of the
organisations involved and has bolstered staff morale and
motivation. "
She
added: "There is still money in the pot for further
organisations to benefit from this initiative although the
funding will cease in March 2006. I therefore urge interested
companies to get in touch with me to discuss the opportunities
available."
Two
companies in the region who have benefited from this scheme
are ECM Systems, a digital gaming equipment supplier based
in Burstwick and Cablepoint, a digital cable and electronic
systems manufacturer based at Sutton Fields in Hull.
At ECM
Systems Ltd, the company had a broad range of training needs
that had not been addressed prior to engaging in the skills
brokerage programme.
John
MacDonald, Operations Director explained: "We needed
a bit of support because we knew what our training needs
were but we weren't clear what level of provision there
was. The digital broker talked us through what was available,
following a discussion around the business and its needs,
then provided us with a range of alternatives to look at.
Once we had made a decision it was very quick to sign up."
In terms
of the impact to his business, Mr MacDonald said: "It
has provided a really good introduction to the value of
training for everybody in the organisation. We have had
comments at all levels from the manufacturing area right
up to the MD, about how various aspects of the business
improved as a result of it. Across the board, we have seen
the benefits and I urge other businesses to pick up the
phone!"
Cablepoint
Ltd had training issues posed by succession management of
the business and had always shied away from training provision,
partly due to being put off by the sales driven approach
of many training consultants.
Terry Wilson, the Managing Director explained: "I was
sceptical that it was too easy in some ways but people are
now welcoming and enjoying training and feel part of the
business as a result."
He added:
"We have gone through a whole range of training and
now the day to day business is now being run by people within
the organisation. It was very good for us."
Organisations
interested in finding out more details about the Digital
Industries Skills Brokerage are invited to call Gill Cutting
on 01482 466582 or e-mail g.l.cutting@hull.ac.uk.
Yorkshire
Forward offers Brokerage services for other business clusters
and organisations are invited to contact Yorkshire Forward
(details) for further information.
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