European Social Fund in England

Engaging employers

Two innovative ESF funded projects are providing valuable and free careers and training advice to those outside the usual Learning & Skills Council parameters; those in employment, older people and higher academic achievers.

By definition, SMEs are small-scale operations. Management often have a broad range of skills but limited expertise in staff development. By contrast, larger organisations often have human resources structures and often benefit from trades union schemes that deliver learning and training opportunities.

The Akenham Partnership is delivering parallel benefits to SMEs. 100 "learning champions" are being trained to engage 300 additional learners.

In each setting, one senior level learning champion acts as "sponsor". A second, at junior level, interacts with staff seeking career development.

These champions learn about organisational and individual needs, staff development and sources of funding. In the workplace they undertake training needs assessments and produce action plans for colleagues.

The Partnership has established a "closed user area" website for learning champions to access a support network, an on-line helpline and up-to-the-minute news on funding grants and subsidised training opportunities.

Will Sambrook of The Akenham Partnership said, "The project matches both organisational and individual needs, but opportunities are not confined to the directly 'job-related'. A worker with increased confidence, gained in whatever area, is an asset in the workplace. This project recognises that upskilling workers leads to more successful companies, it has been very successful - we are on target and employers are very receptive."

In the second project, Suffolk Information, Advice and Guidance is delivering 'GAINS', a free careers and training information, advice and guidance service to older workers, those in employment and those seeking careers and personal development guidance.

Margaret Leek of Suffolk LSC said, "Over 1000 people have been interviewed one-to-one and offered a psychometric test. This leads to an action plan and follow up. The funding continues until August 2005, but its success has guaranteed GAINS' future."

Capacity building is essential to continued provision. ESF money has funded the setting up of NVQ3 and NVQ4 courses in Guidance at a local FE college (previous provision was 60km away) to support the training and qualification of 40 guidance workers.

Margaret added, "These groups normally have no access to free advice; there is an assumption that they don't need it. But the success of these projects demonstrates clearly that the reverse is true."

For further details contact:

Margaret Leek of Suffolk Learning and Skills Council on 01473 883029

Will Sambrook of The Akenham Partnership on 01473 255655

Martin Peel of IAG on 01473 295408

Maureen Staines of Suffolk Learning and Skills Council on 01473 883007