European Social Fund in England

SME management-leadership and supervisory skills

The Learning + Skills Council Workforce Development Strategy highlighted a need for employees to undertake some form of work-related training, particularly those at a disadvantage in the labour market, and beneficial for employee and employer needs. The project was created because of this need; it aimed to overcome the barriers of time and money that often prevents employees accessing appropriate training.

The project is training 75 employees of SMEs in management, team leadership and supervisory skills with the support of 5E limited and the European Social Fund (ESF). The qualification will be accredited through the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) and will include Team Leading at Level 2 progressing to First Line Management at Level 3.

Beneficiaries have been recruited from the London Boroughs of Enfield, Haringey and the LDA priority area of the Upper Lee.

To support beneficiaries' individual development, additional non-accredited learning is also being offered:

• Soft Skills
• Assertiveness Training
• Communication Skills
• Presentation Skills

Beneficiaries are offered the opportunity to improve their ICT skills through accredited routes such as CLAIT; ECDL; MOUS

Sudha Padiga is completing her ILM Level 3 qualification. She currently works for Waitrose. She hopes "to gain the skills to progress into supervisory management, I feel my managerial skills are improving and am now putting the techniques learnt into practice"

5E is a member of the North London IAG Partnership and has a dedicated centre which is available to all beneficiaries.

Irma Riepsiene (far right of photo) is one of the students on the ESF funded ILM course at 5E. Irma talked about her experience on the training programme at a recent ESF Celebratory Event, she said "What I have learned on the project, I am now putting into practice for further training courses". Pictured 4th from the right is Franz Pointner, the European Commissioner for the UK, who also spoke at the event and to his right is Sarah Carrick, Head of Strategic Funding at the LSC London North.