SMEs must do more to encourage apprentices says 5% Club

MORE than 80% of senior decision makers from SMEs in the West Midlands believe apprentices are vital to the future of their businesses.  

A YouGov poll, on behalf of The 5% Club, also found that 34% of firms in the region believe SMEs have a core role to play in upskilling 16 to 24 year olds.

The 5% Club campaigns to get the UK’s private sector, together with public sector organisations to commit to raising the number of apprentices, sponsored students and graduates on formal programmes to 5% of their total workforce within the next five years.      
                                                     
It said that given the vital role that SMEs play in sustaining the UK economy – accounting for 99.9% of private businesses and employing 14.4m people, their support was essential if youth unemployment was to be tackled successfully.

Andrew Churchill, managing director of Nuneaton-based JJ Churchill, an SME member of The 5% Club said: “I was pleased to hear that many SMEs in the Midlands recognise the importance of apprenticeships to their business and that we all have a role to play in tackling the skills crisis, but I was disappointed to hear that only 25% are likely to increase apprentices recruits in the next 12 months.

SCC secures place on network framework

BIRMINGHAM-based SCC, Europe’s largest independent telecoms group, has secured a place on a new framework helping Scottish public sector organisations assess network services.

SCC, the technology arm of the Rigby Group, was awarded a place on the Network Enablement Services (NES) Framework following a comprehensive tender exercise, under EU public procurement regulations, which saw 12 companies bid for the placing.

The NES Framework helps Scottish public sector organisations to assess current network services, identify ways to deliver better value and provide information on the procurement and implementation of new network services.

Through the framework, advice on networks is available to public sector bodies, including local authorities. Advice on the Scottish Wide Area Network (SWAN) Programme can also be provided, if required.

The NES Framework is intended to be a national collaborative agreement which provides eligible public bodies with an efficient route to improving their networks and services, while saving money. The framework is expected to create potential savings of up to £2m for Scottish public sector organisations.

Ian Russell, SCC’s Scotland and Northern Ireland Country Manager, said of the award: “This opens the whole of the Scottish public sector to SCC, focussed on assessment, design and implementation services around networks.

“We are delighted to have been awarded a place on the NES Framework and we look forward to providing a service which can deliver full, end-to-end capability, from network to application.”

eg solutions promotes back office survey 

THE most comprehensive study on the emerging Back Office Workforce Optimisation (BOWFO) market has been launched by analyst house Frost & Sullivan.
 
The report – Profiling the Back Office Workforce Optimisation Market – is being made available for download on its website and will be promoted by Staffordshire-based BOO software supplier, eg solutions.

Frost & Sullivan defines BOWFO as a software solution that helps manage people, processes and workflow in the Back Office to improve operational effectiveness and business agility.  

It said: “The Back Office is a major contributor to the success of any business, and has the ability to significantly impact customer experience. Customer expectations are met and exceeded when Back Office work is done efficiently. Errors, on the other hand, can lead to significant increases in Front Office volume, higher operational costs, and unsatisfied customers.”
 
Elizabeth Gooch, CEO of eg solutions, said: “eg operational intelligence was the first purpose-built enterprise Back Office workforce optimisation software product and is now recognised by many in the market as the most comprehensive WFO suite.

“This is a vindication of the approach we took and continue to take, designing eg operational intelligence to solve real problems of achieving operational efficiency, customer satisfaction and compliance experienced by our customers.

“The suite has been constantly refined to support their developing requirements.”

E-Lites boosted by NEC contract

WORCESTERSHIRE-based electronic cigarettes supplier E-Lites has signed a major new agreement with the NEC Group.

The Bromsgrove firm has entered into a three-year partnership agreement with the NEC Group which will see its products offered for sale at the group’s Barclaycard and Genting arenas.

Designated areas are being provided on site at both arenas to enable customers to use the electronic cigarettes.

Stuart Cain, managing director, NEC Group Commercial Marketing said: “Electronic cigarettes are commonplace now so we asked for a partner that could help concert goers improve their night out with us. E-Lites are the perfect partner and we’re looking forward to working with them at our arenas.”

Trevor Field, from E-Lites said being able to supply its products to such high profile venues was a major boost for the business.

E-Lites was acquired in an undisclosed deal last year by the owner of Benson & Hedges and Silk Cut, Japan Tobacco International.