Training and Education feed - This is Business Staffordshire

Tender loving advice on tap

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 08:20:00 GMT

BUSINESS people interested in learning more about the tendering process are invited to attend a seminar later this month.

The workshop is aimed at small-to-medium enterprises, entrepreneurs, social enterprises and voluntary and community organisations.

It will feature information on tendering for public and private-sector contracts and advice on accessing new markets and boosting sales.

The seminar, which is being run by Blythe Bridge-based Vision Training and Support, takes place on September 27 at North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

It runs from 9am to 4pm.

It costs £155 plus VAT per delegate, which includes lunch.

For more information and to book, call Vision on 01782 548840.

PR workshops show way to boost marketing

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 08:20:00 GMT

COACHING programmes aimed at helping businesses run their own PR campaigns have been expanded.

Newcastle PR agency Richard Swancott Associates launched the workshops in North Staffordshire last year.

Now the firm is targeting companies across the Midlands and North West with training sessions throughout September in Telford, Derby and Holmes Chapel, as well as Newcastle.

The three-hour seminars cover how to write press releases and where to send them, and the integration of award bids, public speaking and social networking into PR strategies. People attending the programmes who refer a contact will have half their £50 fee donated to charity for the homeless Arch North Staffordshire, or Ruby's Fund.

Owner Richard Swancott, pictured, said: "We have held many workshops in Staffordshire in the past 12 months and they've been very well received, with more than 100 businesses attending in Newcastle and Stafford.

"Due to the economic climate, business owners are increasingly looking for better ways of using their marketing budgets, and if they can help a local charity at the same time, then so much the better.

"We've linked up with Arch and Ruby's Fund, and are looking to help other charities in Derbyshire and Shropshire.

College can help to train employees

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:20:00 GMT

STOKE-ON-TRENT College has unveiled a £5 million budget to help employers train their workforces.

The college is offering subsidised courses under the Government's Train to Gain scheme.

Andy Greenhough, director of enterprise and employer engagement at the college, said: "The cuts in government spending are very topical at the moment and while we at Stoke-on-Trent College have suffered, I wanted to take this opportunity to reassure local employers that there is still funding for your workforce through the college.

"The range of skills development and training on offer is significant and the Government allocation allows us to considerably reduce the cost to employers.

"We also have in the region of £3 million to fund apprentices from 16 to 18 years old to adult apprentices over the age of 25.

"While 16-to-18-year-old apprentices are fully funded we require a relatively small contribution to the costs of training adult apprentices."

The college's adult recruitment team is also working to tackle unemployment in Staffordshire.

He said: "In conjunction with the Department for Work and Pensions and the Skills Funding Agency we have over £2 million of funding to reduce unemployment levels."

For more information, call 01782 603603 or email employ erservices@stokecoll.ac.uk

Online video for beginners

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:20:00 GMT

BUSINESSES can learn about producing online videos at a free course.

The three-day Introduction To Media Streaming programme is being run by Staffordshire University between September 13 and 15.

A spokesman for the university said: "The introduction of sites like BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Google Video and Vimeo has made watching video on the internet commonplace.

"Whether for entertainment, education, training or communicating messages to customers and employees, video on the internet for the desktop and mobile is here to stay."

The course aims to teach delegates who are already confident about using the internet how to make and distribute their business' videos online.

For more information, email a.j.kent@staffs.ac.uk or call 01785 353490.

Service plans safety course

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:20:00 GMT

CREWE training company Safety Advisory Services will be running another five-day health and safety training programme.

The Site Safety Management Training Scheme is accredited by the Construction Industry Training Board and it starts on September 20.

Company spokesman Tony Birchall said: "Statistics suggest that approximately 2.2 million people work in the construction sector and it is the largest contributor to worker fatalities for any sector."

Topics covered on the course include the welfare, transport, work at height and asbestos.

Courses offer advice to make changes work

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 08:20:00 GMT

TRAINING business Summerfield Sanders is launching two new courses in conjunction with the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Onneley firm has devised the workshops to reflect changes and challenges heightened by the economic downturn.

Preparing For Change helps firms that are about to alter their structures and processes, while Merging Cultures teaches delegates how to combine departments and organisations.

The courses take place on August 25 and 26 at the chamber's Festival Park office, and are open to both members and non-members.

Sue Sanders, principal consultant at Summerfield Sanders, said: "It will be superb working with the chamber.

"As members ourselves, we find the chamber service one of the most vital tools to our business.

"After 21 years in the training business, you get a feel for what organisations in both the public and private sector are likely to need.

"As the current situation unfolded, with closures and mergers announced almost daily, I felt I really had to develop something new and innovative to help organisations through the process of merging, changes in management, managing redundancies, outsourcing, and staff restructuring."

Mark Brammar, membership manager at the chamber, added: "We are conscious that the effects of the recession have caused many businesses to rethink their mid-term strategy or merge to survive.

"These courses deal directly with the issues around such changes."

For more details, call Rachel Banks on 01782 202222.

More first aiders call

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 08:20:00 GMT

STAFFORDSHIRE businesses are being challenged to recognise first aid as a vital element of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.

St John Ambulance wants companies to train employees in the skills to reduce unnecessary deaths.

Research by the charity found 150,000 people a year die in situations where trained help could have helped.

Midlands St John Ambulance regional director Mel Fox said: "Many organisations have CSR policies or community initiatives that tackle problems we face as a society, such as making their practices more sustainable.

"It's encouraging businesses want to prevent long-term effects on our environment, but by also training more people in first aid they can give staff the ability to make an immediate difference."

For a free needs assessment or to book a first aid course, call 08447 704801, text needs to 88008 or visit sja.org.uk

Blazing the training trail to cut costs

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:20:00 GMT

FIREFIGHTERS have developed training packages which can be delivered in-house in a bid to help businesses cut costs.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has teamed up with the Fire Protection Association (FPA) to create a series of Training Information Packs (TIPs) covering topics including general fire safety for employees, fire safety in residential care, fire safety in schools and fire marshal training.

Head of risk reduction at the fire and rescue service, Ian Sloss, said: "Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service has offered conventional commercial training for many years. However, we have recognised the increased financial pressure companies are under which is why the FPA have produced these training packages as an alternative."

Business support manager John Berrisford added: "Companies have the opportunity to deliver their own training using these packages, as the TIPs contain everything that is needed to run a professional fire safety course in-house. It also makes refresher training affordable and accessible while meeting the legal requirements."

The packages include Powerpoint presentations, trainers' handbooks, student handouts, assessments, certificates and a DVD. Prices start from £155 plus VAT.

For more information, or a free demonstration, call John Berrisford on 01785 898916.

Project offers firms help to find workers

Mon, 31 May 2010 08:20:00 GMT

A SOCIAL enterprise has unveiled plans to help Staffordshire businesses that are struggling to fund recruitment.

Stoke-on-Trent based PM Training, which aims to tackle unemployment among young people, wants to work with enterprises hit by the economic downturn.

The Shelton organisation has already helped more than 10,000 people into jobs and apprenticeships.

Now PM is offering apprentices to companies for up to two months – or possibly longer – at no cost.

Will Nixon, chief executive at PM, said: "We know that for many companies the current economic climate means that times are tough.

"We also know that it is young people who have been hardest hit in the recession.

"They are the ones who unfortunately have difficultly accessing a job or apprenticeship.

"With this initiative, we are creating an opportunity where everyone benefits."

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of jobless people in the UK has risen to 2.51 million – the highest level since December 1994.

PM provides apprenticeships across sectors including construction, business administration, engineering, landscaping, manufacturing, customer services, and warehousing and distribution.

Mr Nixon added: "Companies have found that an apprentice learning on the job is much more likely to hit the ground running when given a permanent position than someone who has no practical experience.

"In the long-run this can save businesses a great deal of time and money – and help increase their productivity.

"Our apprentices have brought great value, new energy and long-term prosperity to hundreds of companies, but we are determined to help even more."

Every company that PM Training supplies apprentices to from June will benefit from financial support for an initial eight-week period.

For more details, call Steve Rushton on 01782 279121.

Cousins trust teenagers to show business brains

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:20:00 GMT

MORE than 100 youngsters from Stoke-on-Trent will be given the chance to start their own businesses as part of an innovative enterprise scheme.

Altogether Company is running a six-week programme over the school summer holidays aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship among 13 to 19-year-olds.

Groups of up to 20 young people will take part from six wards – Meir Park and Sandon, Weston and Meir North, Longton North, Longton South, Blurton and Trent Vale.

The 10-hour-a-week project will be based loosely on TV show The Apprentice, with teams being set tasks and the winners receiving business-related prizes rather than anyone being fired.

Ben and Michael Dyer, the Longton-based cousins who run Altogether, have experience of starting a business at a young age.

Their firm originated as a Young Enterprise project in their teens and it was formalised in 2007 with backing from the Prince's Trust.

Ben, now aged 22, said: "We aim to get them starting their own businesses in those ward areas within the six weeks.

"They are likely to be service-based businesses.

"It may be as basic as a car wash right up to an events company that will put on a major show."

Groups will come together on Mondays to share experiences and review tasks.

And on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays they will be mentored by Ben, Michael and trained teachers.

Projects could include preparing business plans or creating an advert, and speakers from the business world are being lined up.

Ben said: "It's about widening participation and getting them to set their sights a little bit higher than they nay have been before.

"We want them to realise they can run their own businesses.

"I haven't seen anything similar to this anywhere else."

Both Ben and Michael are ambassadors for the Prince's Trust and they have recently met Prince Charles and deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

And over the past 12 months their firm has delivered enterprise training to more than 10,000 youngsters around the country.

The courses include Dragons' Den-style days for nine to 13-year-olds and days focussing on the creative and media sectors.

Now the pair are preparing for further expansion.

Ben said: "Next year we are looking to do a lot more work directly with local authorities.

"We're also looking to apply the same principles to delivering drama classes and sex education.

"It's stuff that's quite difficult to teach traditionally, but new approaches can work wonders.

"We are looking at licensing the programmes and then we can use our experience to help other businesses deliver them."

Michael believes projects like Altogether's Stoke-on-Trent Apprentice Challenge can help increase business start-up rates in the city, which are well below the national average.

He said: "If the businesses the youngsters form make money we will make it available perhaps for another trip for them at the end of the programme.

"Or they could use it to carry on running the business, which is what we really want to happen.

"If you ask most students these days, most would say they have never thought about starting a business, unless their parents run one.

"Neither Ben's or my parents ran their own businesses – they had working class jobs.

"We want to show people they can buck the trend."

A Stoke-on-Trent Apprentice Challenge page has been set up on Facebook.

Youngsters, schools or community groups interested in taking part in the project can call Ben Dyer on 07809 484733.

Great start for workers

Mon, 24 May 2010 08:20:00 GMT

MORE than 350 hospital contractor staff are to undertake a new training programme.

Sodexo workers at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, who provide catering, cleaning and portering services, are embarking on GREAT!, which aims to ensure they are up to speed on the latest cleaning techniques and equipment, food safety requirements and health and safety policy and practices.

Suzanne Beck, Sodexo's business director at the hospital, said: "The training kit materials are interactive, fun and easy to use and this helps our managers to further develop the skills of teams as well as supporting them in reaching their full potential."

Part-own a neet business

Mon, 10 May 2010 08:20:00 GMT

ENTREPRENEURS have the chance to part-own a business aimed at helping young people back into education, training or employment.

Leicestershire-based training business Educ8 has earmarked Stoke-on-Trent as a LearnFit Academy location.

The academies are used by local authorities and other public sector agencies to deliver sports-related courses to teenagers not in education, employment or training (Neets).

Educ8 says LearnFit academies improve exam achievement at school.

Stoke-on-Trent is one of 10 urban areas being targeted by Educ8 because of its high proportion of Neets.

Educ8 offers ownership packages of up to 50 per cent to people who successfully apply to become local managing directors.

Firm offers free first aid training

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:20:00 GMT

Training company Stowan Safety is offering free first aid training as part of a campaign to cut down on thousands of avoidable deaths.

The Hanley health and safety specialist is backing GMTV's national Save A Life campaign.

The scheme follows figures showing thousands of people who die each year from heart attacks or choking could have been saved if someone nearby had received basic first aid training.

Now Stowan is putting on free classes on a first come, first served basis throughout May.

Director Karen Hays, pictured inset, said: "This course will provide an understanding of basic life support techniques that can be applied while waiting for the response teams .

"Our aim also is to provide a similar course to local schools.

"We will be contacting the head teachers of schools in the area and hope that we are successful in attracting their attention."

The courses are available to businesses and individuals.

But places will be restricted to two per firm or organisation.

Training takes place between 9.30am and 1pm on May 7, 14, 21 and 27 at Stowan's base at Hanley Business Park, Cooper Street, Hanley.

To book a place, call Stowan Safety on 0845 0091277.

Pictured is training manager Shona Carroll demonstrating lifesaving techniques.

Pictures: Steve Bould

Companies urged to stay 'on the rails' by learning from others

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:20:00 GMT

A FREE online service aimed at putting businesses on the right track has been launched.

Stafford entrepreneur David Rushton created Business on Rails to offer information from experts on topics including accountancy, sales, ethical business, marketing, tendering, environmental issues and quality management standards.

Mr Rushton, aged 25, owns Webwave, a website development firm.

He said: "My work has brought me into contact with a diverse range of experts from the private and public sectors, all with excellent advice to offer.

"Everyone in business is seeking an edge, and can learn from the expertise and experience of other successful people.

"This led me to think about the possibility of bringing together a pool of regular updated expertise – and so Business on Rails was created.

"As a small business owner I understand that finding the information that you need quickly can be difficult."

Learn ways to improve

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:20:00 GMT

A FREE seminar aimed at transforming the way North Staffordshire companies do business takes place this week.

SOS Networking and ActionCOACH Business Coaches are putting on the event to show managers how to increase profits by achieving more in less time, building and motivating a team and developing successful strategies.

The seminar includes advice from entrepreneurs and case studies of how previous delegates have applied what they have learned.

SOS director Tony Altham, who also runs online promotional giftware business AdGiftsOnline, said: "My goal is to get people in the business community connecting and understanding the opportunities available to do more business, while at the same time picking up new skills and knowledge."

The event is at The Regent Theatre, Hanley, on Thursday between 9.30am and 1pm.

Click here for more details and to book a place

Award for Action Man

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:20:00 GMT

A BUSINESS coach from Newcastle has been labelled Action Man by his peers after guiding 30 businesses to greater success over the past year.

Ian Nicklin, who runs an ActionCOACH franchise, was judged to be one of the best-performing coaches in the firm's Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

He said: "It was a great honour to receive this award."

Mr Nicklin specialises in helping business owners focus on the strategic development of their company, rather than day-to-day administration – and makes sure they are sticking to their commitments at weekly sessions.

Graham Doyle is managing director of IT support provider D2 Network Associates, of Lymedale Business Park, Newcastle.

He worked with Mr Nicklin for nine months last year to develop his business.

Mr Doyle said: "Ian encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone as often as possible and this gave me greater confidence, which has been a huge help achieving real results in the business."

Lifeline for unemployed branches out

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:20:00 GMT

A FREE training scheme dedicated to raising skills, aspirations and job prospects among the unemployed and disadvantaged is to expand.

Lecturer Maria de Marks set up Marks4Training last year at Staffordshire University's Business Village in Stoke and is now planning to set up another base in Burslem.

The not-for-profit scheme currently has 18 clients, six of whom have already found work, while the remainder are working towards NVQ level two qualifications.

Over the next 12 months, it is aiming to provide free training for at least 90 more people after receiving funding from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

The initiative has also been supported by North Staffs Business Brokers' Let's Do Mentoring project.

Maria, a former trainer at IBM who now lectures at Staffordshire University and South Staffordshire College, said: "It's about bridging the skills gap.

"Our free training helps people improve skills, achieve a recognised qualification and gain confidence in areas such as business administration.

"We can provide work placements and we help people prepare to find a job."

As well as courses leading to NVQs at levels one, two and three, the centre aims to support non-English speakers and offers workshops in leisure subjects such as local industrial heritage, literature and photography.

New apprenticeships offer hope to young

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:20:00 GMT

UP TO 100 apprenticeships for youngsters are being created by a new partnership.

Shelton-based social enterprise PM Training has teamed up with Kier Stoke, which manages the city council's housing stock, to help tackle youth unemployment levels in North Staffordshire.

PM Training has already placed 25 apprentices with a range of Kier contractors, including Burslem-based BGC Limited, Silverdale's Environmental Essentials, Unicorn Decorators in Newcastle, Smallthorne-based Holdcroft Heating and Brenden Fern Plumbing Contractors in Tunstall.

Chief executive Will Nixon said: "By partnering with Kier, we have gained a select list of contractors and developers that we are now able to work with.

"In return we can provide work-ready apprentices, guaranteed to bring great value, new energy, increased productivity and long-term prosperity to these businesses."

He added: "By June we could be providing 75 organisations with first class apprentices, creating up to 100 opportunities for young people.

"This figure is set to grow given the variety of different sectors that we provide training in.

"Companies have found that an apprentice learning on the job is much more likely to hit the ground running when they are given a permanent position than someone who has no practical experience."

PM Training, which was set up in 1982 and merged with Newcastle-based social landlord Aspire in 2008, aims to tackle worklessness among young people and targets youngsters who have left school with few or no qualifications.

So far it has helped more than 10,000 people across North Staffordshire gain sustainable jobs or apprenticeships.

Steve Wright is operations director at Burslem building services firm BGC, which has already taken on 12 apprentices from PM Training.

He said: "The quality of candidates has been excellent and in the next two weeks we are hoping to bring on another four.

"They are completing apprenticeships in heating and electrical services.

"Every single apprentice has hit the ground running and is fully equipped to succeed in the workplace.

"The quality of training and mentoring that they have received really comes through.

"Young people matter and our partnership with PM Training is an investment in their future – it is good to give something back to the community."

Tom Phillips, aged 18, of Burslem, is completing a three-year gas engineering apprenticeship with BGC.

He said: "I was given a really good grounding at PM Training which meant I could just get on and do the job once I started my apprenticeship.

"I have already learned so much because it is really hands-on – learning on the job is great."

Lawrie Weaver, partnership director of Kier Building and Maintenance, said PM's work with trainees makes a difference to employers.

He said: "The way they manage them is fantastic.

"As an employer you know they come to you work-ready."

Is your business taking on new staff or apprentices? Email us at businessdesk@thesentinel.co.uk

Safety firm Safe4Sure plans to expand and create jobs

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:20:00 GMT

A SAFETY training specialist is aiming to take on more space and employees.

Safe4Sure, which provides safety equipment as well as training, has a specially-built warren of tunnels underneath its offices at Trentham Business Quarter for confined space training.

The company, which employs five people, has completed working at height training with 400 employees at Kier Stoke, which manages the city's housing stock.

It is about to become the only City and Guilds accredited centre for confined space training in Staffordshire and has also signed a deal with a Virgin Media contractor based in London to become the firm's health and safety consultant.

Managing director Rob Griffiths, pictured below, said companies travel from all over the country to Safe4Sure, which also offers training in first aid, fire safety, asbestos awareness and general health and safety.

He said: "We get everything from one-man bands to big organisations like EDF.

"A lot of people view health and safety very cynically, but if you're working in a confined space you do need training.

"We're looking at taking on another building at Trentham so we can have a sloping roof for training roof workers – we've got ambitious plans to expand and take a few more people on."

Tyre experts help thousands to get a grip on new skills

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:20:00 GMT

MORE than 20,000 people from 30 countries have improved their skills at a Stoke-on-Trent training complex.

The milestone has been passed by the Michelin Training Centre after it relocated from Watford in 2002.

Since then experts have trained between 2,500 and 4,500 delegates a year.

Many of the trainees come from outside the area, helping to boost the economy of North Staffordshire.

Richard Whitehurst, manager at the Trent Vale centre, said: "It's good for Stoke-on-Trent. I'm a Stoke-on-Trent lad and I'm pleased to say we are bringing in a lot of business to the area.

"They stay for two to three nights in hotels and go out in the restaurants around here.

"It's extra business for the area that is only here because of us."

More than half of the visitors are not Michelin employees, and many come from tyre shops such as ATS and Kwik Fit.

The Stone Road complex is kitted out with a range of tyre fitting machines, five lecture rooms with digital film equipment and a mock tyre shop for retail sales role play.

Training covers all aspects of the tyre industry including fitting, repair and renewal as well as management and other business skills.

Police and accident investigators are also taught how to identify when tyre failure has contributed to incidents and how to determine the cause of that failure.

Examples of tyres involved in accidents are stored on site, ranging from tyres with a lack of tread to tyres shattered by liquid nitrogen or melted by thousands of volts when a tipper lorry hit power lines.

The centre, which is adjacent to the manufacturer's Stoke factory, brings in sales of between £400,000 and £500,000 a year.

Mr Whitehurst said: "The fact that we bring in a reasonable amount of money means Michelin is prepared to keep investing in the facilities here.

"And because people are trained here they are more likely to be advocates of Michelin products.

"In the future we would hope to keep the good work going, and we see overseas demand growing.

"Michelin is expanding in India and they prefer to come here rather than going to one of our centres in France because of the language."

At the moment the centre is delivering a 13-week course for an Indian man and a 12-month programme for a Michelin employee from Japan.

It is accredited by the Institute of the Motor Industry, City and Guilds and, from last month, Staffordshire University.

Bryan Carnes, chief executive at the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "North Staffordshire has been very fortunate to have Michelin as a major employer since the 1920s.

"During that time it has been committed to training thousands of people who have gone on to make careers in Michelin and also started their own businesses and created a lot of jobs in North Staffordshire.

"It is to their credit that they have maintained their commitment to Stoke-on-Trent even during times of manufacturing retraction."

Has your business passed a significant milestone? Email us at businessdesk@thesentinel.co.uk