Training groups pledge to adapt their courses

Oct 28 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

TRAINING groups have pledged to tailor the courses they offer to suit small businesses.

As part of its efforts to help small firms through the economic slowdown, the Government last week announced a £350m package of measures. It included more training opportunities and extra money, which will add around £2m to the North East’s £56m annual Train to Gain programme this financial year.

North East businesses have used the Government-backed Train to Gain scheme more than any other region. Almost 18,000 workers in the region have used the programme to improve their skills since its launch in September 2006. Chris Roberts, regional director of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), said: “We have always spent our budget which has not always been the case in other parts of the country. Nearly 6,000 companies have taken this up in two years. We think this [the Government package] will increase massively the numbers taking it up.”

In addition to extra money, the Government has relaxed the rules surrounding training in line with demands from small firms.

“This package releases a lot of rules that they have been complaining about,” said Mr Roberts.

“They say, I don’t want my person to go away for weeks and only half of what they learn is relevant to my business. Previously they had to train to a certain level, but now they can do units rather than a full course. We will now fund bite-size chunks so they can do the units that they want.”

The LSC works to train businesses which have five employees or more and is trying to create clusters of small firms that are based in the same geographical area or operate in the same sector. Mr Roberts urged small firms not to turn their backs during the economic difficulties. “When the economy is tight, one of the first things to go is training,” he said. “If they are working shorter hours, one of the things they can do with the spare capacity is training. A lot of SMEs have been created in the last 10 years. People have seen a relatively strong economy, so the things they are doing to cut costs is new. There is a big pressure on them now.”

He is confident the changes that have been introduced will encourage more business owners to seek training for their staff and for themselves.

“Really what we’re doing is adapting some of our money and responding to what businesses have said to us,” said Mr Roberts. “There are signs out there that businesses are saying this is what they want.”