More than 700 businesses across Suffolk and Norfolk have had the chance to boost the skills of their workforce, thanks to a Skills Support programme with New Anglia LEP.
Working in partnership with employment and skills specialist Seetec, businesses have pinpointed the skills and qualifications needed to improve efficiency and productivity and grow their business.
Through the LEP and the European Social Fund, they have received funding to drive skills progression at all levels up to leadership and management.
Paul Winter, Chair of the LEP Skills Board, said: “We have bold ambitions for a more highly skilled workforce, better able to meet the demands of business in Norfolk and Suffolk.
“Skills provision and education isn’t just for the young. The work of Seetec and its partners is really assisting us to drive skills progression for the whole workforce.
“It has helped businesses to pinpoint where they need to develop their staff. This will future proof their business and improve the efficiency and loyalty of the workforce.”
At a joint LEP and Seetec Skills Support for the Workforce event in Brome, near Diss, on 11 October, Chris Starkie, CEO of New Anglia LEP stressed the importance of partnership working across industry sectors to improve the skills offer for businesses in the region.
Mr Starkie said: “Delivering economic growth sustainably and increased productivity means that we need to focus even more on cross-sector working. Key in this is improving our skills offer for businesses and for their current and future workforce.
“Skills development shouldn’t stop at the point you enter the world of work – lifelong learning helps the individual and the business, with obvious benefits to productivity.”
Chantel Hampton, Seetec’s Skills Delivery Manager, said more than 2,800 people had received training through the Skills Support for the Workforce programme over two years.
“Working in partnership with specialist skills providers in key areas such as social care and construction, we have developed bespoke training programmes to meet the needs of the different businesses and their employees and ensure the skills and professional qualifications gained match their current and future workforce requirements,” she said.
Businesses interested in developing the skills of their staff should email Seetec on [email protected] or see: https://www.seetec.co.uk/employer
