HELP FOR BUSINESS
Tuesday, 15 December 2009 18:17
Help for Businesses
In the current climate it can be even more difficult to understand and access public sector support for small and medium sized businesses. Here is a summary of skills and related initiatives and opportunities which employers may find useful:
APPRENTICESHIPS – key facts
• Support for new and existing employees
• Work based training designed to meet the needs of employers.
• Recognised BTEC qualifications
• Support from a training provider
• The right apprenticeship for your business
• A customised training plan is developed for you
• Advice on available funding
• Fully funded training for 16 – 18 year olds
• Grants of up to £4,000 under a new Apprenticeships Grant Scheme run by Hampshire County Council, for equipment, mentoring and training costs not covered by Government provision.
Contact www.apprenticeships.org.uk to find out more
TRAIN TO GAIN – key facts
• A tailored training package for employees
• Possible eligibility for funding to support training
• Advice on everything from basic skills to leadership and management training
• Funding support available
• An independent Business Link Adviser, college or training provider will source the right training package for you.
• Training will be scheduled to minimise disruption to your business
MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP GRANTS – key facts
• Specific funding for leadership and management skills.
• £500 is available to support training for managing directors, owner managers, and company directors.
• Up to £500 further grant available to a senior manager on a matched funding basis.
• free training needs analysis for companies with 5 – 250 employees.
Contact details :www.traintogain.gov.uk or Business Link 0845 600 9006
Other support and initiatives
The vehicle for delivery of action and setting the agenda for skills in Hampshire will be Employment and Skills Boards (ESBs)
Employer led ESBs are being set up in South Hampshire and North/mid Hampshire consisting of business representatives of all sectors of the local economy, and senior decision makers from Government agencies and local authorities.
These Boards will eventually be in a position to set the agenda and direct considerable resources for the enhancement of skills and improvement of employment conditions locally.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships allow companies to access the skills of local graduates to undertake commercial projects on behalf of the business. The scheme offers heavily subsidised support which covers an area of work which an employer would like to develop without the longer term commitment of resources. 1-3 year projects have included marketing plans and software development with companies reporting enhanced profitability and real savings to their bottom line.
Research and Development Tax Credits
Companies whose work includes an element or significant proportion of R & D in their business can apply for a refund against tax credits for these activities.
Significant refunds have been obtained and retrospective claims cna be made for the last two financial years.
Support is available to access this scheme and to examine the level of funding that can be received.
To find out more contact
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CompeteFor is a free service that enables businesses to compete for contract opportunities linked to the London 2012 Games and other major public and private sector buying organisations.
With a particular focus on supply chain opportunities, CompeteFor acts as a brokerage service, matching buyers with potential suppliers. It also facilitates access to focused business support, through the national Business Link network, helping to boost the long–term competitiveness of your business.
Over a billion pounds worth of Olympic and Paralympics contracts are still up for grabs: With less than 1000 days to go to the London 2112 Olympic and Paralympic Games, there are still approximately £1.7 billion worth of contacts to be awarded by London Organising Committee (LOCOG) and Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) which will generate thousands of additional business opportunities through the supply chains.
For further information about the government support on offer for businesses interested in taking advantage of the opportunities of the 2112 Games, please visit www.competefor.com
Government Publishes Skills for Growth White Paper
In November, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills published its national skills strategy, recognizing that skills are a vital part of the Government’s growth plan for economic recovery.
Skills for Growth has 6 key priorities:
1. Promoting skills that matter for prosperity – continuing the focus on Level 2 NVQ and Basic Skills. Also the aspiration for 50% participation at University.
2. Expanding advanced Apprenticeships – to produce the level of skills that businesses will need.
3. Targetting support into growth sectors and ensuring the provision is demand led.
4. Encouragement to adults to continue learning through life and offering consumer choice on training provision.
5. Encouraging businesses to develop more of a training culture and providing the proposed new right of time to train.
6. A simpler system of access for individuals and employers to training provision including removing 30 publicly funded skills bodies over the next 3 years.
During 2010 – 2011 £4.4 billion will be invested in post 19 learners. This will support 3.4 million adult learners nationwide.
Full details can be found at www.bis.gov.uk/skillsforgrowth