Case studies
The sucesses and challenges of skills training
Poor fit - how a course mismatch barred
the way to a job
One example that was shared with the CBI was of a job seeker who was in competency for fork-lift driving. The local college offered a course in warehousing, but the short course he needed could not be done separately, and he could not afford to fund it himself. Despite the fact that it would have made him more employable, a short course was effectively closed off to him.
The engineer's apprentice
A CBI member in Glasgow offers high quality engineering-based apprenticeships and does not struggle for applicants. But despite being a locally based institution for almost 100 years and offering a secure position for years to come, they reported in our discussion that very few applicants for their schemes come from the local communities that have traditionally supplied their workforce, and which now have relatively persistent high levels of unemployment.
Linklaters making a difference in Hackney
Law firm Linklaters teamed up with Business in the Community's Business Class programme to combine education and work for the benefit of Hackney's school students.
Linklaters wanted to help teachers gain experience of the world of business, closing the gap in understanding between the company and schools. An innovative approach saw them take on a seconded deputy head from the borough. This gave the company a great insight into the local area, the schools and the challenges while the teacher was able to pass back the lessons of the secondment experience to colleagues.
Solid grounding - Land Securities partnership delivers results
In partnership with a specialist construction training provider, property company Land Securities has developed a pre-employment training programme in the basics all their staff need to know. Candidates are offered training in specialist NVQs and apprenticeships leading to job opportunities at its main contractors and supply chain or through a job brokerage scheme
One candidate, Paul, has seen his life transformed through the programme. Unemployed, he had "nothing to look forward to and was unhappy". The Land Securities course helped him get the certificates he needed to find a job straight away, at McAlpine. "I now get up at 6.30am rather than midday and work with great colleagues. I feel there is a future for me now. I never want to sign on again, ever."
Talent Retention Solution - retaining skills in engineering and manufacturing
The Talent Retention Solution (TRS) is a new national web-based system operating across UK advanced manufacturing, engineering and construction. Launched by the minister of state for business and enterprise, Mark Prisk, with the support of employers, trade unions and sector skills councils, the TRS will help match employees facing redundancy to UK companies - ensuring vital skills are not lost from the sector.
The scheme has received government funding for set-up costs and will be fully funded by business subscriptions from January 2012. TRS will support both large and small organisations will be free to companies with fewer than 500 employees. Leading companies such as Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Siemens and Airbus have already signed up.
To watch a film setting out the background to TRS and the benefits of being involved, visit the Department for Business, Industry and Skills website - and to register the interest of your organisation, from a recruitment or redeployment perspective, visit the TRS site.
Want to contribute to our Getting the UK Working campaign? Get in touch
