Workplace Training
To support both the existing and future workforce, the NWDA
supports a number of training and employment initiatives, including
workplace training for people who are already in employment but who
need additional skills to successfully do their current job or
prepare for promotion.
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Train to Gain: People Development
All businesses in the Northwest can receive funding towards
accredited employee training and development up to NVQ Level 4 or
equivalent.
In addition to the above funding, businesses with up to 249
staff can receive funding for "bite sized" training in business
support subjects, including: business improvement; business systems
and processes; sales and marketing; finance and credit; and IT.
The scheme also part-funds Apprenticeships
and English courses for speakers of other languages.
Train to Gain: Leadership & Management
The Leadership & Management programme offers business
leaders and senior managers of SMEs a flexible approach to
developing their leadership and people management skills.
The scheme is aimed at businesses with between five and 249
staff who want to: develop a more effective and productive
workforce; improve skills and efficiency in work practices; keep
ahead of the pace of change; develop a competitive edge; improve
staff morale and retention; and motivate and empower staff.
Each business leader and senior manager has their skills needs
assessed by a trained skills broker, who creates a personal
development plan for them outlining the skills and training they
need.
LEAD Programme
The LEAD (Leading Enterprise and Development) programme offers
learning and development opportunities to the owner-managers of the
region’s micro SMEs. The programme concentrates on the two most
important areas of the business; the business itself and the
personal development of the owner-manager.
The aim of the scheme is to bring support and knowledge to
owner-managers who find themselves so wrapped up in the day-to-day
running of the company, that they find it difficult to take a step
back and look at the bigger picture.
LEAD provides structured processes and answers to specific
business problems, not theoretical ones. Primarily, owner-managers
arrive at the programme with specific issues they want to tackle -
and it is these issues which are then dealt with head-on.
The scheme is designed for owner-managers of Northwest
businesses with up to 20 employees. It helps the owner-manager:
focus business growth; develop new business processes; streamline
the business; and gain confidence in and improve their leadership
skills.
The NWDA has invested £9.5 million in extending the scheme until
March 2012, enabling a further 2,000 businesses across the
Northwest to benefit from the programme.
Business Mentoring
Business Mentoring is for leaders and senior managers of
small businesses that have been trading for a minimum of a year and
have a turnover of less than £2m a year.
The programme offers the opportunity to learn from and be
inspired by an experienced senior business leader or manager.
Mentors will be a role model and will challenge and question
their clients, but ultimately support them to make the right
business decisions. The support of a mentor enables leaders and
senior managers to become more innovative, competitive and
entrepreneurial, so they can increase their business success.
Business Mentoring is based on the belief that leadership
training is as much about personal development as it is about
learning set skills through formal training. It aims to empower
leaders and improve leadership skills through self-development.
The Business Mentoring programme offers practical,
long-term support on a one-to-one or group basis outside the
conventional employee/manager relationship. An e-mentoring option
will also be available from May 2010 for those who would
prefer virtual support. The programme is free to
qualifying businesses.