National praise for skills service
A PIONEERING approach to helping businesses develop employees’ skills, which was piloted in the North-east, is to be rolled out across the UK.
Business Link North East and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North worked together to make it easier for companies to identify training needs and contact local learning providers. It is the only region in the UK where this Train to Gain skills brokerage service is provided by Business Link, which today marks the first anniversary of a reorganisation that saw the Tees Valley branch amalgamated with its regional neighbours.
The Government praised Business Link North East’s approach, which, it said better matched provision to need.
Now it is to be rolled out across the rest of the UK.
Alastair MacColl, chief executive of Business Link North East, said: “As the first region to develop this way of working, it is hugely satisfying that our work has received national recognition. It has been a successful partnership which has seen North-east employers and learners benefit from training delivered in businesses of all sizes and from all sectors.”
Chris Roberts, regional director for LSC North East, said: “The unique way in which Train to Gain is delivered has brought huge benefits for employers and learners. The service is raising the profile of skills development and more employ- ers are realising the sound economic sense of investing in the skills of their workers, which is good for business, individuals and the wider economy.”
For more on Business Link North East, see this week’s Business and Finance Advice on page 4.
