European Social Fund in England

Working skills

Region: Governments Office South East

Project Group: Staff and managers in Surrey SMEs

Details of the project

WorkingSkills was an innovative project delivered by an SME to the SMEs in Surrey. The focus was on

• flexibility of delivery style
• talking to owners and managers & responding to specific requests
• prompt response (most in-house training arranged within 2 weeks of request)
• topics determined after discussion (TNA) with managers

Beneficiaries chose training

• in small group workshops
• individual coaching,
• joining learning networks
• NVQ taster.

If none of these suited, staff signposted information to open courses

Emphasis was on soft skills, although an arrangement was made to subsidise an IT training company for generic skills.

Delivery was predominately though brokering independent trainers with a diversity of skills and delivery styles. They were selected for each specific event and responded magnificently.

Awareness raising was through partnerships with Business Link, Chambers of Commerce, IAG networks and working with other funded projects e.g. voluntary sector. With such flexibility on offer, traditional means of advertising and promotion proved ineffective. Almost all contacts were made face to face at business networks by WorkingSkills staff.

Feedback was almost universally positive, the personalised approach being appreciated.

The project proved a win/win for all.

• SMEs had tailored quality training at minimal cost
• Trainers had interesting work locally without marketing.
• WorkingSkills staff enjoyed offering real service.

Key achievements

Targets have been achieved well ahead of schedule and within budget. Staffing levels and costs were constantly monitored to maximise benefit to recipients. Each company was limited to 6 training interventions.

The majority of SMEs had not engaged external trainers before.

Hardest to sell, but most effective were the NVQ tasters:

Alan left school as soon as possible to work in a factory for artificial limbs. He quickly rose to foreman, but encountered challenges in dealing with older, more experienced workers. Coaching towards L3 Management helped him set up and implement effective disciplinary and Health and Safety procedures. He achieved his qualification within a year.

Learning Networks -benefited managers in very small companies as a forum to develop strategies and ideas with peers.

For more information contact

Ms Hazel Bennett Chartered FCIPD

Director, Active Personal Learning Ltd.

Tel: 01483 574692