Training Reaps Reward

Invest in training and you invest in the future of your business.

“The most obvious and immediate advantage of training is a workforce with new or better skills,” advised Andrew Dickson, South Lanarkshire Economic Development Manager.

But there are other knock on benefits. “Firms that offer training opportunities also enjoy greater staff motivation,” Andrew explained. “And employees are more willing to stay with a company when they feel they are contributing to their personal development.”

Yet despite the potential rewards, some firms can be reluctant to invest in training due to the cost.

The Lanarkshire Business Training Grant and the Lanarkshire Training Fund are both there to offer grant support to help small and medium- sized business round this problem.

The schemes are part funded by South Lanarkshire Council and the European Union through the Strathclyde European Partnership. They are designed to assist with the cost of training key personnel where this will develop the business and help it grow.

They can meet up to 50 per cent of training costs. The Training Fund is normally only available for training which provides progress towards nationally recognised qualifications up to SVQ Level Two, or equivalent.

The Training Grant helps with the costs of training above SVQ Level Two with the possibility of a higher level of assistance when employees attain above SVQ Level Four. To qualify companies must normally employ less than 250 staff world-wide.

But there is no downward limit – and even a company with just one employee could obtain support under the schemes.

Indeed, as Andrew explained: “Often training is more important for smaller companies as their employees need to be versatile and multi-skilled.”

The council’s training support programmes have proved a big boost to Four Seasons (Scotland) Ltd – a firm to whom training is particularly crucial.

“We import sun rooms, patios, sky-lights and conservatories from the US. These are much higher spec than those normally found in the UK,” said director Norman Paterson. “They can be used all year round and are better described as glass extensions. They arrive as a high-quality, up-market flat pack. The problem is there is no skill bank in this country of people who can build them.”

As a result, the company, based at Larkhall’s Brookside Garden Centre, has to train all its staff to in how to construct them.

“I employ fully-qualified tradesmen, but these are quite different to what they have seen before,” said Norman, “Our aim is to always get it right first time. So training is very important to us and the support has certainly helped with that.”

Another firm to benefit from the training programmes is Racking Safety Inspection in Wordsworth Way, Bothwell.

The firm advises companies on safety issues regarding pallet racks and the fund helped pay for two members of staff to complete an industry-related qualification.

Proprietor Richard Baird said: “We have been in business for over 15 years so we had the expertise already. “But gaining the qualification gives you the bit of extra kudos which helps secure business. Any grant assistance is always a help.”

Preference for the grants will be given to businesses which are key industry sectors to the Lanarkshire economy, businesses within Social Inclusion Partnership/Area Regeneration areas or those within areas covered by certain South Lanarkshire Council initiatives.

Companies who think they might be eligible should contact their local Small Business Gateway for advice.

“The message to companies is to pick up the phone and ask if they are involved in any training that could qualify for assistance,” said Andrew.

Small Business Gateways

Business South Lanarkshire - Summer/ Autumn 2001

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