Deadline Looms For Training Subsidies

A business in Hull has joined forces with a college in Halifax to help people across Yorkshire and the Humber access part-funded training to increase their skills base.

But with time running out to access the funding, businesses are being urged to act quickly to snap up discounts of up to 80 per cent on courses which have been acclaimed by those who have used them.

Golding Computer Services has trained more than 130 people from businesses across the region over the last six months in Computerised Accounting for Business qualifications from Sage and the International Association of Book-keepers (IAB).

Funding secured from the £50-million Skills Enhancement Fund, which is co-financed by the Skills Funding Agency through the European Social Fund and funded by Yorkshire Forward, has helped make the courses and qualifications more affordable for private sector companies throughout the region.

The courses have attracted people from businesses in a range of sectors including engineering, catering, horticulture, leisure and charities. The format has meant minimum intrusion into working hours, with trainees from more than 80 businesses able to combine duties in the office with a hotline from home to Goldings tutors in the evening and at weekends.

Scott Gibson, managing director of Hull-based, family-run business Cleartech Waste Services Limited, said the course proved ideal as his wife Deniece prepared to step down from her duties as office manager to begin her maternity leave.

Coreen Strachan completed the course and is now hoping to advance to the next level and take on more responsibility within the business.

Scott, formerly finance director of the company, said: "The course and the subsidies came along at the right time to train someone up to fill the void. It really helped that there was the flexibility for Coreen to work at home.  If she does the next level she'll be able to take some of the accounts duties off me, and it will be brilliant to know I can leave it with her."

Goldings is a delivery partner of Calderdale College and the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges and is accredited by Sage and the IAB. The company runs the courses as distance learning, using assessment and tests rather than examinations.

Using the latest Sage 50 software, training is available over three levels and covers accountancy and other skills relevant to the day-to-day operation and management of any business.

Vic added: "There is a deadline on the current round of funding for our courses and we need to confirm the applications by the end of March.

"We focus on the need for businesses to reduce costs and enhance performance in today's tough economic climate and on helping people to secure nationally-recognised qualifications.

"The format of the course reflects the fact that businesses find it difficult to allocate time for training, and the subsidy addresses any concerns about budget."

To find out more about the courses and funding eligibility contact Di Garbera at Golding Computer Services on Hull (01482) 328706 email
di@gcs-limited.com or visit: www.gcs-limited.com/sage.html

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