Skills boost fund extended following record success

A HEBDEN Bridge jewellery business and a Leeds lighting firm are two of the latest Yorkshire businesses to benefit from a share of a £50m skills boost fund.

Element Jewellery is reporting increased sales after providing specialist gemstone and photography training to its staff.

Meanwhile, Apollo Lighting in Leeds has achieved record profits after providing computer software training to more than half of its 40-strong workforce.

The training was made possible by the Enhancement Fund, which aims to improve the region’s skills base by offering help towards training costs for employers who are not eligible for funding from other existing sources.

It is supported by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the European Social Fund (ESF) and regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

Since its launch a year ago, the fund has supported 6,000 regional businesses of different sizes and sectors.

Of these nearly 60 businesses and 1,300 staff were at risk of redundancy.

The success of the Enhancement Fund to date means that a further £20m is to be committed to extend the project into 2012.

David Hodges, regional director of skills for the LSC in Yorkshire, said: “The Enhancement Fund has been well received for adapting to the changing skills needs and demands of employers during this recession, and will continue to support employer training with the aim of aiding economic recovery and supporting growth in the economy.

“We hope that employers can make learning new skills or building on existing skills a core element of all business development, rather than an optional extra, and that individuals also address their training needs as it will become increasingly difficult over the next few years to get a job without any basic qualifications.”

“I would urge employers to find out about the different types of support either for those wanting to raise the skills levels of existing employees, or for businesses seeking support for employees facing redundancy.”