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Firms get skills cash injection
From the Bolton Evening News, first published Friday 7th Jan 2005.
TWENTY nine north-west companies, including Rainbow Embroidery based on Vernon Street, Bolton, have received a total investment of nearly £220,000 to help them improve the skills of their workforce.
The cash has arrived thanks to the "Fast Forward" programme run by Skillfast-UK, the Sector Skills Council for clothing, footwear and textile-related businesses.
Launched in 2003, the aim of the programme was to develop the skills of employees working within the clothing, footwear or textile industries, to ensure businesses remain both competitive and productive.
Managers had to produce a business report that highlighted opportunities for business growth and improvements.
From this a training plan was produced, which identified the skills needed by the workforce to take the business forward. Once the plan was approved by Skillfast-UK, companies received up to 75 per cent of the total training costs. Business development manager for Skillfast-UK, Fred Kirkland, who managed the programme said: "The Fast Forward programme meant that businesses which were already committed to training and development, were able to offer a more in-depth training programme due to the financial investment on offer. It also helped senior managers focus on the specific needs of individuals and proved to be extremely successfully in helping to improve the skills of their workforce."
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