College pledges to help 100 firms bounce back from Covid

Coventry College has made a pledge to help 100 businesses bounce back from the Coronavirus pandemic.

The further education provider said it is committing to help 100 new companies it has never worked with before in an initiative called “COV100”.

Businesses will be given access to the college’s apprenticeship talent pool – enabling them to connect with suitable individuals who meet specific criteria for vacancies they have.

Companies who sign up for support will also be given guidance on how they can take advantage of the Government’s £111m funding for traineeships in England for 16 to 24-year-olds; where for each trainee taken on £1,000 will be awarded to the employer for up to ten recruits.

Coventry College itself is currently offering traineeship programmes in Motor Vehicle, Construction, Business & Professional and Catering & Hospitality.

The College’s Employer Engagement Team will also be helping firms to analyse the training needs of their team, and spotting potential opportunities to upskill workforces further to aid diversification of services.

Support is also being offered to start-ups and those looking to become self-employed with the launch of a level 2 Start Up Business online programme, enabling the learner to understand the first steps in creating a business along with the financial, marketing and legal requirements.

Gemma Knott, assistant principal for Business Growth at Coventry College, said: “All businesses – whether they’re start-ups or established companies – have had to reassess their plans because of Covid, and workforces form a key part of that planning.

“As a college we already work with firms across a variety of sectors to ensure our students are being taught skills that industry needs, so we know first-hand the importance of investing in people to ensure companies can continue to thrive.

“For some companies, it might be helping them to understand incentives and schemes for traineeships and work experience, or even helping them to develop a bespoken long-term recruitment strategy.

“Our overriding message to businesses of all sizes is that we are here to help them ensure their workforce isn’t just ready for the here and now, but is one that is ready to propel their business in a world where agility is becoming a necessity.”