09/12/13

Launch of new skills support website for Dorset businesses

Serco in conjunction with Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), has launched a new website aimed at developing the skills of employees in line with the individual, business and regional needs of small and medium businesses across Dorset.

www.skillssupportfortheworkforce.co.uk provides Dorset employers with information about the support available and details of the partnership which includes Dorset LEP, Serco Vocational Training and local training providers. Serco was selected by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) earlier this year to deliver the ‘Skills Support for the Workforce’ contract in Dorset.

This contract, which is co-funded by the European Social Fund, is unique in that it is the first time that Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs)  have played a critical role in determining the effective use of European funding at a local level.

Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and Serco Vocational Training are working together to allocate nearly £900,000 of European funding to help employees across businesses in Dorset to acquire vital skills to aid business growth across the region.

The money will provide workplace learning courses at no cost to small and medium sized businesses in the following priority sectors identified by the Local Enterprise Partnership:

  • Tourism
  • Engineering
  • Food & drink
  • Health & social care
  • Environmental
  • Creative industries
  • Finance & banking

Geoffrey Smith - Dorset LEP Board member and Chair of the ESB, said: 

“Part of our ‘Skills Support for the Workforce’ campaign is to ensure people in the county have the right skills to meet the needs of growing businesses across the area.

“Our partnership with Serco represents a tremendous opportunity to help meet the current and future workforce requirement across Dorset. This important initiative will help businesses to grow by having the right skills in place to fulfil their needs.”

 

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