A skills support programme delivered by Warwickshire Skills Hub is expanding across Warwickshire after it was successfully trialled in Nuneaton and Bedworth.

The Skills Escalator Fund is designed to support businesses to upskill their employees to allow progression within their business. The project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in partnership with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Rugby Borough Council, Warwick District Council and Stratford District Council. 

 

During its successful pilot period in Nuneaton and Bedworth last year, the programme supported 76 employees from 25 businesses to improve their skills. A broad variety of industries were supported including manufacturing, engineering, warehousing, logistics, retail, hospitality, beauty, healthcare and leisure. Courses undertaken by employees were extremely varied and included CNC Machine Operating, Forklift Truck Driving, Engineering Design, Digital Marketing, Sales Skills, Complex Care, IOSH and Management Training.

 

The programme is currently available to businesses (with up to 249 employees) based in Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warwick and Stratford postcode areas who are seeking to invest in their employees’ progression. Rugby is due to go live very soon with North Warwickshire hopefully to follow.

  

The fund offers up to £750 grant funding per employee towards the training of up to five employees. Training can be qualifications, licences, vocational skills training, or certificated learning which is delivered by a college or independent training provider. Support in developing a tailored training plan to reflect the business’ and employee's aspirations, is available through the Warwickshire Skills Hubs team of Business Skills Advisors. 

 

Among businesses to have benefited from the Skills Escalator Fund is Defenda Group, a packaging company in Exhall.

 

Alison Courts, Finance Manager at Defenda, said: “The training is already proving invaluable and allows huge improvements in efficiency. Not only for our organisation but also for those delivering into our warehouse. With more staff now capable of loading and off-loading lorries, waiting time for our suppliers is reduced considerably and staff breaks no longer result in delays for visiting lorry drivers needing to have their loads tipped.

“The training has been a great help for our business as we now have many members of our team capable of loading and off-loading goods from vehicles using lift trucks. The frustration of team members needing to move palletised goods around the warehouse but lacking the qualifications to do so have also now been dealt with.”

* If you would like to know how Warwickshire Skills Hub can support your business with apprenticeships and upskilling, please email skillshub@warwickshire.gov.uk and one of our Business Support Advisors will be in touch.