Pictured above: Assessor Meg Kent and Lee Pilsworth

Over 50 people have benefitted from at-work business management training to help their businesses recover from the recession, thanks to a company in Worcestershire which has received funding from Europe.

Money from the European Social Fund (ESF) allowed training business, TDM (The Development Manager Ltd), to offer high level management training to individuals in order to bolster the businesses they work for. National Vocational Qualifications in Business at Level 4 were offered, and particular focus was given to 'change management', educating individuals on how to approach and deal with restructuring and redundancies in the workplace.

In total, 54 individuals have benefited from the project, which was backed by the West Midlands Councils and Skills Funding Agency's regional ESF programme.

One of the individuals who undertook the training was Lee Pilsworth.  Lee decided that he would like to formalise his skills as manufacturing manager at the firm he worked for by taking a National Vocational Qualification Level 4 in Management.

"I found that the training allowed me to make the most of my skills and gave me more confidence when it came to chairing meetings and resolving issues in the workplace," said Lee.

When the systems supplier company where Lee was employed went into administration and was taken over by a new company, the management qualification that Lee had achieved helped to secure him a position at the new business.

Lee said: "It was at that point that I realised just how valuable the qualification was - it was the difference between me securing a job or potentially being out of work."

Glen Bradbury, project manager at TDM, said: "The focus is often on getting people trained in order to re-enter the workplace, but it's just as important to ensure that those in work have the necessary skills for the roles that they are doing.

"The Level 4 appealed to many of the individuals because it was a combination of work-based learning and online tutorials. This allowed them to take the qualification at their own pace."

Meg Kent, Lee's assessor at TDM, said: "The NVQ Level 4 is more about gaining an accreditation to reflect the skills individuals already possess, whilst building and developing new skills. Lee was very eager to gain a qualification that demonstrated his capabilities."