Develop employees’ skills with Flexible Training Opportunities

Skills Development Scotland (SDS), the body which plays a key role in delivering the Scottish Government’s skills strategy, is currently offering a training boost to small businesses. If your business has staff of 75 or less, SDS will refund 50% of the cost of up to 10 training courses – worth up to £500 per course. For example, if your training costs £1200, SDS will refund £500, if it costs £300, they will refund £150.

Lantra Sector Skills Council, who has been lobbying for some time on behalf of industry for funding for more flexible training, is helping to promote this opportunity. Ishbel Crawford, Lantra’s Regional Partnership Manager for Highlands and Islands said: “The benefits of training are invaluable for both businesses and employees, this is exactly the type of funding that Lantra and other Sector Skills Councils have been lobbying to secure. We frequently hear from businesses that they need funding to develop skills, but not necessarily through accredited learning. It may be a small shellfish grower who wants to learn to use Sage for their accounts or to develop their marketing skills, or perhaps a medium size fin-fish business with some staff who would benefit from training in containment issues, or office staff who need to learn to use some new software. Places are limited, so anyone that is interested should contact SDS as soon as possible.” Anyone from sole traders to businesses with fewer than 75 employees can apply for up to £5000 towards training costs. If you want to find out more about the initiative, call SDS free on 0800 783 6000. ENDS ISSUED BY: Paula Smyth, Marketing, Communications and Project Co-ordinator Tel: 028 7963 1304 or email Scotland.media@lantra.co.uk EDITORS NOTES • Lantra is the Sector Skills Council for land-based and environmental industries, working to ensure these businesses access the training, qualifications, skills and knowledge they need. • An independent UK organisation, Lantra works with employers and the UK’s governments to address the skills and productivity needs of approximately 230 businesses (one in every ten UK businesses) in: agriculture; animal care; animal technology; aquaculture; environmental conservation; equine; farriery; fencing; fisheries management; floristry; game and wildlife management; land-based engineering; horticulture, landscape and sports turf; production horticulture; trees and timber and veterinary nursing. • By working together with the sector, Lantra leads research on skills issues and business needs, sets national standards and develops qualifications to meet modern business needs and help businesses grow through skills. • For more information see www.lantra.co.uk.

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