22 focus on slough Meeting Slough’s needs
One of the interesting challenges identified in the most recent Berkshire Economic Assessment is that there is an important disparity between the relatively low skills levels of Slough residents and the typically highly skilled nature of the jobs available in the Borough, writes David Podger, managing director of Thames Valley Training & Development
One way of accessing the higher-level skills so urgently needed in Slough is for local residents to take advantage of the opportunity to study part-time on one of the many courses available. Thames Valley Training & Development, along with higher education colleges in the area, offers a wide range of courses that lead to nationally recognized vocational and professional qualifications. Studying for these qualifications could lead to a well paid and rewarding career in a field where there are currently unfilled vacancies, as participants learn new skills that meet specific gaps in demand in the local job market.
As a good example, one of the industries employing the largest number of people in Berkshire is the IT sector, yet many IT companies struggle to recruit suitably qualified IT technicians in Slough. Thames Valley Training & Development offers industry-recognised, vendor certification from HP, Cisco and Microsoft – passports to jobs in businesses across Slough
and the Thames Valley area. And it’s not just IT technicians that are in demand; similar level roles are available for accounting technicians, sales people and supervisory staff in manufacturing. Our courses appeal to both individuals who want to develop their careers and also to employers who recognise potential in their employees and want to offer them training.
Thames Valley Training & Development, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bucks New University, has been set up to help companies and individuals across the region get the qualifications they need to meet the challenge of economic growth. We work very closely with different professional bodies to ensure that our qualifications are accredited, and all our instructors come from the commercial world. They bring real-life workplace experience to enable our course participants to gain the relevant skills they need in their future careers. We stand by our strapline: professional training, professionally delivered.
You may be clean, but are you green?
The cleaners have finished, the waste has been removed and your premises are sparkling. But the way waste is treated after it leaves your building has a huge impact on your organisations’s carbon footprint
In today’s increasingly ‘green’ business environment, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) considerations dictate that maximising recycling and the diversion of residual waste from landfill should be your minimum target. Local company Grundon Waste Management specialises in just that. The largest family- owned waste management company in the UK, Grundon is headquartered at Benson in the heart of the Thames Valley and serves the entire region from collection depots at Slough (Colnbrook), Reading, Wallingford, Banbury and Leatherhead.
Using its own vehicles and facilities the company provides a single source for all major waste streams encompassing collection, recycling, treatment and disposal:
• Mixed recyclables collection – all cardboard, paper, plastic bottles, glass bottles & jars and steel and aluminium cans into a single container
• Energy from Waste option, diverts residual waste from landfill
• Food waste
• Confidential waste, including on-site shredding
www.businessmag.co.uk
• ‘Haz-Box’ service for low volume hazardous waste
• Hazardous waste, including WEEE • Clinical waste, eg from medical rooms.
The UK has seen a plethora of new and amended legislation addressing various waste streams in recent years. Most recently, UK government has made clear its determination to stop food waste being sent to landfill. If avoidable food waste was prevented and unavoidable food waste diverted to anaerobic digestion (AD), the potential savings to industry would be more than £720 million a year. If just 25% of the hospitality and food service sector were to sign up, they could save up to £76m by the end of 2015, and reduce their CO2 (e) impact by 570,000 tonnes.
Grundon is currently rolling out food waste collections and recently signed up as a supporter of the Hospitality and Food Service Agreement introduced by WRAP, the Waste & Resources Action Programmes. Richard Skehens, Grundon’s chief executive officer, said: “Grundon is delighted to be working with WRAP on this major new initiative
Specialist food waste collection vehicle
to tackle food waste. We wholeheartedly support the aims of the Hospitality and Food Service Agreement and will be actively encouraging our staff, customers and suppliers to waste less food and associated packaging, and to reuse and recycle more.”
With its highly-qualified staff and vast experience Grundon is well placed to advise you on how to maximise recycling and ensure your organisation remains compliant with all waste legislation.
Details: Kevin Brewer 01753-686777
info@grundon.com www.grundon.com
If you are either an employer who wants to upgrade the skills of an existing workforce, or an individual looking to invest in a new career, then contact us to find out how Thames Valley Training & Development can help you get the qualifications that count.
David Podger 0808-252-5051
www.thamesvalleytraining.com
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MARCH 2013
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