Upskilling your workforce is a vital part of ensuring the future and viability of your organisation. It’s also one of the most positive steps that you can take to ensure you retain experienced, valuable and contended team members and keep staff morale high. In this article we’ll explore the what, why and how of upskilling,…
In this article we’ll explore and address some of the questions and perceived complexities of taking on an apprentice within your SME. Throughout our years of facilitating training and providing upskilling opportunities we’ve heard the full spectrum of responses to the concept of apprenticeships. From concern over the potential cost and workload implications to outstanding,…
In uncertain times it may feel counterproductive to spend time and money upskilling an established team. In actual fact, investing in your team right now by upskilling is one of the best things you can do for your business. Especially when a huge variety of diverse skill development opportunities are available FULLY FUNDED through SMART…
Abi Bunt Business Skills Adviser, SMART SKILLS What is your favourite thing about SMART SKILLS? The benefits it has on SME’s. I love that SMART SKILLS can help businesses access high quality training that they may not have a budget for. What do you like most about working on the SMART SKILLS programme? I’m a…
We’re Celebrating! We’re in a celebratory mood this month having reached a huge milestone that we are all immensely proud of. Along with our learning partners, we have now provided fully funded training and development programmes to over 1,000 participants. When we launched in April 2021, in the midst of the COVID crisis, many people…
What is upskilling and why is it relevant to my business? Upskilling your workforce is one of the most valuable and productive things you can do to improve your business. But let’s be honest, it can feel overwhelming. Choosing from multiple providers offering a myriad of different courses, arranging cover for staff while they train…
SMART SKILLS is Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week in Devon. This year the theme is Loneliness which affects millions of people across the UK. Monday 9 May 2022: Today marks the launch of Mental Health Awareness Week, the UK’s national week to raise awareness of mental health. The week, which is hosted by the Mental…
Michael Sharman Skills Adviser, SMART SKILLS What is your favourite thing about SMART SKILLS? That SMART SKILLS offers a rounded skills service like no other, to be able to support a business with their skills need which could have a significant impact on their business; it is just fantastic! What do you like most about…
Kickstart Scheme Ends but It’s Not Too Late to Develop Skills It has now been over a month since the fantastic Kickstart scheme came to a close. The scheme offered the opportunity for individuals aged between 16-24 to enter a position within the workplace, with the expense footed by the UK Government. The Kickstart scheme…
Naomi Richards Skills Adviser, SMART SKILLS What is your favourite thing about SMART SKILLS? That it’s accessible to anyone over the age of 16 in Devon and the fact that businesses can upskill their staff without paying a penny! What do you like most about working on the SMART SKILLS programme? I love that our…
With 2022 on the horizon, it’s time for you to launch an upskilling revolution and place you and your employees in the forefront of the training movement! Upskilling is vital in replacing outdated skills that are no longer relevant to today’s ever-changing job landscapes. Change is inevitable, there’s nothing we can do about it. COVID-19…
SMART SKILLS Meet Skills Demands SMART SKILLS have been supporting Devon based businesses with bespoke training solutions to meet their individual needs. SMART Partner, City College Plymouth, have been providing bespoke training through business engagement. The college delivered two different formats for training local businesses in October. The first was to support business members of…
Digital Skills in the Workplace SMART SKILLS Partnership and Engagement Manager, Sean Gibson, talks about digital skills in the workplace. “The past 18 months have been an interesting period for businesses where many have been tested and all have been required to operate in a more flexible way. For many years we have all faced…
SMART SKILLS – Composites Day Out ESF SMART SKILLS is all about raising the aspiration and skills levels of those living and working across Devon. SMART SKILLS aims to cover key priority business sectors identified by the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The project will deliver a range of fully funded short courses and full qualifications…
