Pictured above: Ellen Morley

A Midlands based business improvement and training consultancy has backed a CBI report published last week calling for a reform of government funded employee training programmes. 

The report which comes ahead of a government White Paper about the future of skills funding, claims more money needs to be pumped into higher level programmes that will help businesses draw on a workforce with greater work-orientated skills, to drive growth and deliver more measurable economic returns. It also says employers want more access to training providers that can deliver high quality tailored training that fits in with their operational requirements and business needs.

Ellen Morley, Principal of The Business Company based in Shropshire, said today: "Our own experience tells us there is a need for more practical work based skills training at intermediate and higher levels if UK businesses are to increase their competitiveness in the market place and sustain and grow employment levels. Smaller businesses in particular have a need for more flexible, tailored training that caters for individual business needs and which can be delivered to just one or two members of staff to take back into the workplace."

"We have helped a considerable number of small businesses this year to access funding for the Business Link Director Development Programme (DDP) and there is no doubt that the delegates who attended, and the businesses they represented, have benefited from one-to-one tailored training in areas such as Practical Leadership Skills."

Amanda Ryan, Practice Manager at the No Worries dental practice, recently attended a DDP course on Business Management, along with Practice Principal, David Barke. She said: "We both found the information and ideas beneficial and are already putting the plans into action. The Business Company targeted the sessions to suit our specific business needs and helped us achieve a better understanding within the practice, and its needs."