Stephen edwards and Pam Sneddon from
mcVities, which is reaping the rewards
of the Train to gain scheme
TAIloR mAde
TRAININg
Research shows that 74 per cent
of employers who have used
Train to gain have seen an
improvement in job-related skill
levels, and one company already
using Train to gain funding to
good effect is mcVities in Halifax.
eight people from the company
have successfully completed a
National Vocational Qualification
(NVQ) in Business Improvement
Techniques, and are now using
that training to improve the
manufacturing process.
Pam Sneddon, training and
development manager for
mcVities, says: “The training
was tailored to our business
objectives and has helped us
to remain competitive in our
sector.” manufacturing change
The righT people wiTh The
co-ordinator at the company,
righT skills enable companies
Stephen edwards, agrees:
“It’s a win-win situation really
To develop, innovaTe and compeTe.
– for our employees it means
and no more so Than now, as
a recognised qualification and
for the company it leads to
inform reporTs.
better ways of working.”
one employee who undertook
the training was Kevin Whittell,
TIme To TRAIN.
advanced operator at the Halifax
cake-making site: “It’s great to
get a qualification and it has
made us look at the production
process in a new way, putting
In today’s tougher economic climate some of training. The core Train to Gain programme
aside our preconceptions. Now
may conclude training is a luxury they cannot offers skills training at NVQ level 2; the
we are making changes on lines
afford. False economy, say the experts – enhancement fund can be used for high-level
and factory-wide.
investing in workforce skills can actually unaccredited training, such as leadership skills,
“For example, we have
give businesses a competitive edge even, and plugging the training gap.
improved communication at the
arguably especially, when market conditions “At this time when businesses have to be
time we change from one product
are tight. even more competitive to succeed, it is vital
to another on a line.”
It was in exactly this context that the to concentrate on the higher level training in
mcVities, like other ambitious
new Train to Gain enhancement fund, technical and management skills – training companies, realises that now
worth up to £50 million, was unveiled in which does not necessarily end with a formal more than ever it’s time to invest
the region. The fund, operated by the Learning qualification, but which is nevertheless in training to maintain that
and Skills Council, will offer employers across very important. cutting edge.
Yorkshire and the Humber a flexible solution “There is clear evidence that this higher level
to training, allowing them to make the most of training can give leaders more motivation to
“IT’S A wIN-wIN
of growth opportunities. The funding is on top inspire their companies to succeed at a time
of the core Train to Gain offer, a £75 million when the marketplace is very challenging.”
SITuATIoN REALLY –
national initiative of which £35 million is To access both national and regional funding
FoR ouR EmpLoYEES IT
dedicated to Yorkshire and Humber. opportunities, Train to Gain brokers are the
mEANS A RECoGNISEd
Yorkshire Forward is supplementing LSC first point of contact. The brokers offer tried
funding, enabling more employers to take and tested skills diagnostics and audits so
QuALIFICATIoN ANd FoR
advantage of the initiative. Ruth Adams, that companies can have their training needs
THE CompANY IT LEAdS
assistant director – skills, Yorkshire Forward, identified accurately, then find the right
To bETTER wAYS oF
explains the role of the Enhancement Fund: solutions from the most appropriate providers.
“This is a regional response to a demand from
www.businesslink.co.uk/yorkshire
woRkING”
companies for help with more bespoke types www.traintogain.gov.uk
page 21
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