Bespoke training from Skills 4 Growth helping to close skills gap

Nuneaton-based VCS Manufacturing Ltd is among the latest companies to benefit from the Coventry & Warwickshire Skills 4 Growth project (CWS4G) which delivers skills support to SMEs in the region.

Skills 4 Growth, part-funded by the European Social Fund with additional funding from Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council, offers a range of training to eligible businesses in the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership postcodes.

Through the scheme's delivery partners extensive training is available to help individuals gain accredited full qualifications and units of qualifications at Level 2 and below and units of qualifications at Level 3 and above.

An Organisational Training Needs Analysis is conducted with eligible SMEs to identify skills gaps in the workplace which may be creating a barrier to growth. CWS4G, together with the employer, identifies the skills gaps within a business and a Skills Training Package is developed to meet those needs.

VCS Manufacturing team-member Natalie Masterson is just one of the successful recent candidates.

VCS Manufacturing provides a full turnkey service, from simple to complex components and fabrications. The company works with clients to create and engineer designs to become reality in the most cost-efficient way.

Coventry Adult Education Service (AES) undertook a Training Needs Analysis with the organisation to identify its current skill-base and future training requirements to support business objectives.As the company is on a journey of considerable growth and expansion, training for the purchasing and finance team was identified as a priority, to ensure best practices are in place to support the directors in managing and monitoring business performance against Key Performance Indicators.

VCS Manufacturing Ltd is always keen for individuals to develop their skills, so is supporting Natalie to complete the computerised bookkeeping qualification in October, to further develop capabilities of the team. Natalie attended a four-day training course and achieved a SkillsFirst manual bookkeeping qualification in July.

"The course has given me a much better understanding of bookkeeping and its importance to the business," she said. "I thoroughly enjoyed the course; bookkeeping is much more interesting than I expected."

VCS managing director Paul Smith said: ‘I have noticed greater confidence in Natalie and her increased ability to take on a greater role in the team. I am really pleased with the progress she has made and the initiative she shows.

"The fact that she found the course so enjoyable has motivated her to continue to the next level which will benefit her and the business."

The Skills 4 Growth programme is managed by Coventry City Council in partnership with the Coventry & Warwickshire LEP, Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub, Warwickshire County Council and other major stakeholders. A 50% contribution of funding for eligible training costs is made by the project.

For further information on how Skills 4 Growth may be able to support your business to close Skills Gaps please contact Anne-Marie Tranter anne-marie.tranter@coventry.gov.uk Tel 02477 719782.