Small waste firms to receive help with training

EU Skills said it will use the money to improve training for SMEs in the waste and gas sector, which have traditionally not benefitted from government funding for skills and training.

The funding comes from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) growth and innovation fund, which is designed to leverage greater investment in skills across a number of sectors.

To help organisations gain access to and information about the what the money can be used for, EU Skills is set to develop a series of regional waste management and gas networks that will also allow small businesses to share information, best practice and training.

The regional networks will consist of online portals where SMEs can upload and share information. EU Skills said it will work with delivery partners to help build on existing networking activity, where possible, in a bid to streamline communication.

Commenting on the fund, EU Skills said in a statement: For many small businesses, hiring new staff and investing in training is often simply not an option. With pressure on cash flow and margins, coupled with an inability to forecast or predict workload beyond the next few months, business owners are often left with a huge dilemma whether to take a risk and recruit new staff or to simply get by. This new injection of funding will offer businesses a lifeline, helping identify gaps in skills and how best to overcome them through a series of employer led regional networks facilitated by EU Skills.

The EU Skills Group is the sector skills council (SSC) for the gas, power, waste management and water industries, licensed by government and working under the guidance of UKCES.

Networks

A spokeswoman for EU Skills told letsrecycle.com that six networks will be put in place to facilitate and manage the delivery of the fund and would help SMEs join forces and share development and training.

Commenting on the funding and networks, she said: “The funding can be used for anything that has a direct and positive impact on the work force development within the SME network.

The network has been made available to remove the barriers that a lot of SMEs find through traditional modes of training. This funding will help break down those barriers and make it far more accessible.

She added that the training would encourage collaboration among SMEs which would allow them to share resources and risks meaning they can compete for projects alongside larger organisations.

In a statement, EU Skills said: With a focus on support and advice for small businesses, the EU Skills Network will not only open up access to available training and development, it will also provide access to a range of supporting services to help businesses adapt to the requirements of this fast paced and customer driven economy. By creating networks of likeminded small businesses, the potential for joined up working and exploiting economies of scale is huge.