Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) is a programme developed to upskill employees within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. They provide recognised accredited qualifications and bespoke training courses to enhance your employees’ skills, increase the competitiveness of your business and boost the local economy. Stoke on Trent City Council is part of Serco’s network of expert organisations chosen to deliver the SSW programme in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). SSW is co-financed by the European Social Fund and the Education and Skills Funding Agency. 

Tamsin has recently started her own business as a PR and communications consultant who offers advice, training and content creation for organisations that need media support. She found out about the SSW support through a local networking event. 

Steve Rogers (Stoke Council) arranged to meet with Tamsin and complete a training needs analysis, she already had some idea of the courses we delivered and had shown a particular interest in our ICT offer. The meeting focussed on Tamsin’s new role at Legs PR Agency and what training she needed to help her develop and improve the performance of the business. The TNA identified that there was a gap in her ICT knowledge and she wanted to learn more about the everyday software packages such as MS Excel to help her make the business more efficient.  Through the TNA, we identified that our 2 day Basic skills MS Excel course would be suitable.  Tamsin was starting without much prior knowledge and felt like she was lacking confidence so the basic course would give an introduction to the main basic functions before learning how to apply the package to her own work environment. 

Tamsin attended the 2 day course. As well as learning the basic functions, she learnt how to apply the functions specifically to her role at work.  She is now able to oversee the income and expenditure and administer the accounts. 

Tamsin is an excellent example of someone who was able to learn new skills and apply these to her role in the company, as a result she has been able to do more within the business and use her time more efficiently. 

Tamsin said “The course I went on was great.  It gave me the basics I needed to manage my accounts and as a result of the course, I was able to create spreadsheets to manage my cash flow which I couldn’t have done before.  I’d highly recommend if you need the basics and even if you’re already using Excel”

To find out about accessing fully funded training for employees through the Skills Support for the Workforce programme businesses can contact us.