IT’S time to Switch on to Skills.

Dorset and Somerset Training Providers are running a campaign to promote training, apprenticeships and skills opportunities to employers.

Switch on to Skills started with National Apprentice-ship week earlier this month and will culminate with an end event on March 15.

It is being led by the Dorset Employment and Skills Board and is backed by the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, the Dorset Echo and Daily Echo.

The hope is to promote the need for businesses to develop their skills pools to maintain competitiveness, reduce staff turnover and strengthen the business for the future.

Rod Davis, MD of Dorset and Somerset Training Provider Network, said: “We are very fortunate in Dorset to have a healthy variety of diverse education and skills providers to meet the changing needs of the business community.

“Provision is on hand, covering the majority of the county’s business sectors, to support all levels of skills training and development needs from preparation for employment, foundation level, employment entry level, apprenticeships, further education and higher education.

“Over recent years the county’s colleges, independent training providers, community learning and the universities have been focused on developing a more responsive, flexible and demand-led service to organisations which help meet the challenges and needs of the business community.

“This development is a journey and not a destination, with continual development required to maintain effectiveness.

“Quality and value for money, whether the skills training is funded by the government or by employers, employers across Dorset must feature in the development of modern training provision.

“Value for money can only be commented on by the end user, the employer.

“The performance of education and training providers across Dorset is very strong when compared to other counties in England.

“In delivery of apprenticeships for example Dorset Providers regularly appear amongst the best if not the best in the country.”

&bull: Switch on to Skills holds a business breakfast event on Thursday, March 15, from 8am to 9.30am, at Kingston Maurward College. To register your interest email belindapayne@live.co.uk.

Scheme benefits both business and trainee

Maria Seabright, finance and HR manager at Greendale Construction, based in Poole, explains how both apprentices and the company benefit.

“The training and apprenticeship schemes that Greendale adopts teach our trainees the philosophy and way in which Greendale operates, so the apprentices/trainees understand early on how the company operates and are encouraged to bring ideas and innovations to the table.

“We train them in the Greendale way – that’s why it helps the business.

“Over 40 per cent of our current workforce originally trained as apprentices with the company, with some having now reached Senior Site Management level.”

Maria said that the firm invested in a host of skills and qualifications, including NVQs, City and Guilds and industry qualifications, and all had a value to the business.

She added: “Firstly, we have to meet statutory requirements. Secondly, investment in training is paramount for good business. Any successful company needs fully trained and qualified staff to add value and improve competitiveness.”