Grants help electronic firms stretch training budgets

A HARROGATE-based electronics firms is just one of the companies to have recently benefited from subsidised training courses offered by Electronics Yorkshire (EY).

Companies can apply for a 60% discount on training courses thanks to the introduction of an Enhancement Fund.

The Yorkshire Forward and Learning and Skills Council fund is additional to the Government’s Train to Gain programme and is intended to support employers in developing and increasing the skills base of companies and the region.

Staff at SR Drives Manufacturing spent four days at EY’s training centre in Leeds studying a cable loom assembly course.

The course provides candidates with skills and knowledge to prepare cables and connections for assured use in cable loom or harness assemblies applied, in the case of SR Drives, in electrical control systems for variable speed electric motors.

According to Allan Blue, production manager at SR Drives, the funding support meant that the firm’s training budget can no go further.

“We were delighted to bring our new staff up to the required level to ensure that our products are manufactured to the highest industry standards,” he added.

Other companies in the region to have benefited from accessing the Enhancement Fund include Comms Design in Wetherby, Electroparts in Huddersfield and Tele-Products in York.

Peter Burnley, training and technology manager at EY, said: ‘Given the current economic situation, the enhanced training fund has come at an ideal time for companies in Yorkshire and Humber to ensure the skills of its employees are the highest they can be.

“This is clearly a more cost effective way for employees to gain the skills electronics companies need to keep ahead of the game.”