Skills Support for the Workforce

Skills Support for the Workforce in Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough

Funded training courses to help your business grow

The Skills Support for the Workforce programme (SSW) helps support small & medium businesses in Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough to upskill their employees with training courses & qualifications to help their business grow and boost the local economy.

We can work with you to develop a bespoke training programme relevant to your business needs, and as the SSW programme is co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), a wide range of training can be accessed at no cost* to your business.  *subject to eligibility

We have a network of expert training providers who can deliver 100s of fully funded and accredited training courses covering a range of subjects such as: IT & Digital Skills, Leadership and Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Construction, Health and Social care, Customer Service, Business Administration, and many more.

 

Get in touch

If you would like to talk to us about the training on offer and how it might be able to support your business and employees you can contact our Partnership Coordinator for the Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough region, Howard Cordingley.

Howard will have a conversation with you about your business training needs and how the programme can help your business to grow.

Howard also covers Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham & Nottinghamshire and Leicester & Leicestershire

What’s on offer?

  • A training needs analysis for your business, identifying the skills your team need to support your business goals
  • On-the-job vocational training to meet individual and business needs including taught learning, workplace assessment, distance learning and online learning
  • Recognised accredited qualifications and training courses to support employees to upskill or even learn new skills
  • Progression pathways for your employees enabling them to take on more responsibilities and move up in your organisation, or progress onto higher level qualifications and apprenticeships

How could you benefit?

  • A more efficient business with improved profitability
  • A highly skilled and engaged workforce with up-to-date skills
  • Improved staff morale and motivation, therefore reducing staff turnover
  • Become an ‘Employer of Choice’ which will improve your business’ image and attract new talent
  • Competitive advantage in your marketplace and improved chances of winning new business

More information 

Serco delivers the SSW programme in partnership with The Business Board of Greater Cambridge And Greater Peterborough Combined Authority. The Business Board have identified the following key sectors for skills support in the area: 

  • Agriculture & Food
  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Life Sciences
  • Logistics
  • IT & Digital
  • Health & Social Care
  • Construction

Other sectors are also eligible to access funded training. Please see below for eligibility criteria. 

Eligibility

The following eligibility criteria apply for anyone accessing support through Skills Support for the Workforce in Greater Cambridge And Greater Peterborough.

  • The learner has to be employed by the organisation (or self-employed).
  • The learner has to be eligible to work in the UK – evidence will be required
  • The learner must be aged 16+ (no upper age restriction)
  • The training has to be delivered within the LEP region and by one of the contracted SSW Training Providers

Skills Support for Redundancy 

We also offer support to business owners facing the prospect of making hard decisions about redundancy, and to individuals who have recently been made redundant through the Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

Contact the team for more information.

Our Training Providers

Training Event Safety Solutions Ltd (TESS)

The Tess Group are a learning and development provider established in 2009; delivering qualifications including Apprenticeships, Diplomas, Traineeships, Adult Learner Loans and ESF – SSW funded training. Since the moment we started we have been working on changing the way everyone finds their future & delivering inspirational learning that has a measurable impact on people’s lives.

We are rated Ofsted Grade 2 February 2017, Matrix Accredited and an Investors In People Gold Employer. We have won several awards in recent years including Business Of The Year 2015, Enterprising Organisation 2016, Apprenticeship Provider 2016 (Apprenticeship Awards). We were a finalist at the Investors In People Gold Employer awards.
Our vocational delivery range include Customer Service, Team Leading, Management, Sales, Business Administration & Recruitment. We provide learning that is needed to support learners or businesses to their steps.

We are able to bespoke programmes specific to the needs of business, delivering a blend of workshop training sessions, one on one coaching sessions or remote training.

Siamo Training (Qommunicate Ltd)

Qommunicate is an established workforce development company specialising in providing a fully tailored learner journey for all individuals, starting at pre-employment training, developing into fully skilled and sustainable workforce.

SR Partnership Limited

We have been trading for over 12 years and specialise in construction NVQs that are relevant to you and your business.

We have a 100% pass rate and have successfully delivered several hundred NVQs from level 2 to 7 over the past 8 years.
Due to our methodical approach we have completed Level 2 in 4/6 months,  level 3 NVQs in only 6/9 months, level 6 in only 9/12 months and level 7 NVQs in 18 months.

We assess each candidate’s competence, experience and skill in order to carry out the Qualifications and Credit Framework/National Vocational Qualification (QCF/NVQ) process.  All of our NVQ assessments are conducted on site, which will save you and your delegates time and travelling expenses.  We have assessors countrywide, so whatever project you are working on we can attend your site.  We will also apply for the relevant CSCS card for you or your delegate as part of our management process.

We have recently undertaken bespoke Health and Safety training courses with excellent attendance and feedback
We work many major large, medium and small leaders in the Construction Industry and are happy to explore any new projects that are required.

The Construction Skills People (CSP) Ltd

Construction skills People is the largest provider to the UK’s construction sector, established in 2008, we deliver a wide range of vocational qualifications and commercial training courses specifically for the construction sector. Our in-depth industry knowledge allows us to advise our clients through the complex minefield of Health & Safety legislation and regulation. We are the UK's leading provider of construction-related work-based qualifications and offer a broad range of NVQs that help our clients ensure they are CSCS and CPCS compliant.

We enjoy working with over 75% of the UK’s top 100 construction companies as listed by the industry’s Construction News magazine. We look to foster robust relationships with our clients, built on our concept of putting our clients’ needs first. As you would expect from an industry-leading training provider, we practice what we preach, and our staff's Continual Professional Development is an ongoing process that ensures our staff have the knowledge and expertise to offer industry the correct advice.

Vocational delivery rangeAll qualifications in construction including Civil Engineer, Construction Plant, House Building, Off-Site Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Utilities, Environmental and major projects. All of CSP’s qualifications are delivered on site to reduces disruption and employee downtime.

Accreditations - Matrix accredited, Disability Confident, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 18001

Essential Site Skills (ESS)

Essential Site Skills Ltd (ESS) are an Award Winning, UK leading Training Provider founded in 2013. We specialise in nationwide training and support within the Construction sector but can also deliver a wide range of accredited and non-accredited training across various employment sectors including Health and Social Care, Business Services and Retail, ranging from Level 1 to Level 7 qualifications, as well as delivering bespoke training courses - we adapt the service to suit the needs of the employer.

Our relationships with employers and learners have been key to our success, working with them to identify and fill skills gaps with a focus on individual progression routes and supporting company growth aspirations. We also have an employability division that focuses on supporting at risk, or recently redundant individuals, offering a wide range of bespoke training options and signposting them to our expansive employer network, identifying employment opportunities.

As an organisation, we strive to make a positive difference to the safety, welfare and overall competency of individuals in a high-risk industry, as we believe everyone has the right to go to work and return home safely.

Pathway Group

Pathway Group is a leading Regional Skills Provider with a vision of Changing Lives Through Skills and Work. 

As an ESFA prime provider, we are proud of having been rated as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, in 2016. We also hold quality standards, such as ISO9001, and Matrix; and have a track-record of investing in our workforce- as accredited by the Investors in People Silver Standard. For the past 15 years, we have been at the forefront of supporting individuals through their journey into and during employment, delivering qualifications tailored to job outcomes, linked to employers.

We exist to encourage and advance employment opportunities by matching the needs of business, individuals and communities. We do this by having a relentless focus to add value, delivering positive outcomes and ensuring that we put our relationship first, leading us to be your partner of choice. We provide a broad range of skills development programmes from a training room to the workplace, helping people to qualify and develop skills for employment and their career. We have a passion in providing our learners with career opportunities through the delivery of traineeships and adult education programmes through to employability and other youth initiatives.

Based just outside Birmingham City Centre, our highly skilled team of employees are on hand to guide partners, employers, learners and parents through the various options there are to gaining qualifications, experience in the workplace, and employment.

Specialists in workforce development, we are at the forefront of supporting levy paying employers though the change in landscape of apprenticeship delivery and we understand the importance of developing and maintaining relationships that last.

TCHC Group Limited

TCHC Group Limited was set up in August 2004. Since then TCHC has grown rapidly and gained a wealth of experience working with organisations including the Education and Skills Funding Agency, The National Lottery Community Fund, Department for Work and Pensions, Local Authorities including the Greater London Authority, and Local Enterprise Partnerships. TCHC offers a wide range of training and workforce development solutions for individuals and employers across all industry sectors.

Our current workforce development portfolio includes a wide range of training options from short courses (2-Days) to longer term programmes, including Apprenticeships, covering sectors including Digital Skills (IT, Excel, Social Media), Customer Service, Business Administration, Functional Skills, Team Leading and Management, Accountancy, Equality & Diversity, Security Training and much more. Training is tailored to the needs of the organisation and its workforce and can be delivered face-to-face in the classroom or remotely though Teams or Zoom.

EM Skills

EM Skills is an industry leading educational management company.  Established in 2012, EM Skills has the experience and expertise to support businesses in a diverse range of sectors.  We  specialise in the delivery of apprenticeships, courses and qualifications for adults in:

  • The Care sector
  • Teaching and Assessment
  • Business and Management
  • Transport  

We specialise in offering a flexible approach to delivery and assessment which can be tailored to reflect the needs of the employer and employee. We can offer both face-to-face or distance learning training depending on organisation preference, at days and times to suit. 

We are a family business, based  in Hertfordshire, although we have a nationwide reach.  Our family values permeate throughout the business, resulting in a team that puts the delivery of excellent training at the heart of everything we do.

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