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Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) in Heart of the South West – funded skills training to help businesses progress

SSW has adapted delivery of its training provision to continue to support small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

SSW is a programme developed to upskill employees in the Heart of the South West. SSW provides funded, recognised and accredited skills training to enhance employees’ skills, increase the competitiveness of businesses and help to boost the local economy.

Delivered by Serco, SSW is co-financed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and the European Social Fund.

SSW’s network of expert delivery partners are now able to offer a wide range of funded training courses through online and distance learning. Making use of technologies such as; Skype, Zoom, webinars, online distance learning platforms and training portals, means that both new and existing learners can access training at a time and location that best suits the learner and the needs of the employer.

This flexibility will allow ‘in-journey’ learners to continue their bespoke training package remotely, where feasible, and enable new-to-programme employers to reap the benefits of upskilling their workforce.

Rob Matts, Head of Serco’s SSW programme, said: “Our focus is to continue current learner progression wherever possible and to enable new learners to take-up the offer of funded skills training to bolster their career. We are supporting our training providers to adapt their delivery, allowing for remote and flexible training provision.

We want learners to be able to continue their study and working from home, for example, should not be a barrier to ongoing, vocational upskilling. In the current business climate, we are regularly revising how and what we can deliver online to accommodate the training needs of both learner and employer.”

The programme is delivered in partnership with the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership. Where possible, training provision has been tailored to include courses which support businesses operating in LEP priority sectors: 

  • Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (incorporating Marine, Nuclear and Aerospace)
  • Agri-Tech (including Food and Drink)
  • Health and Social Care
  • High Value Tourism
  • Digital Technologies
  • Electronics (including Photonics)
  • Environmental Futures
  • Construction

Digital skills training is available to those wanting to enhance productivity, streamline online business processes and increase in-house efficiencies.

For more information about accessing funded, remote skills training for your business, please visit: https://www.serco-ese.com/skills-support-for-the-workforce/regions/heart-of-the-south-west or email: skillssupport@serco.com  

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