Enhancing business competitiveness: Dorset Chamber CEO Ian Girling says investing time in upskilling a workforce can pay huge dividends
We recently held the first Dorset Skills Day in Wareham, bringing Dorset training providers and employers together to promote the various training programmes and courses available for employees – many of them fully funded – to help support growth and raise skills in Dorset businesses. The day also offered employers a really good opportunity to discuss their training needs. Skills development is vital in all Dorset businesses for many reasons.
Firstly, a skilled workforce increases the services and products a business is able to offer – vital in a competitive business environment, whether locally, nationally and internationally.
Technology continues to evolve at an ever-increasing rate – and it’s vital that businesses are able to embrace this technology with the development of internal processes, improving efficiency as well as the development of core products and services.
A skilled workforce will also result in higher productivity, improved job satisfaction and improved staff retention.
This last point is absolutely vital given staff recruitment and retention continues to be one of the key challenges for businesses in all sectors across the country.
There is also a genuine commitment from providers to do their absolute best to develop their services to best meet the needs of employers. This includes looking at flexible delivery to help this fit around the needs of business.
No one path
Staff development and training can follow many forms. Apprenticeships are now the preferred method of training and recruitment for businesses in many sectors – and this can be from a Level 2 entry-level programme right up to degree-level training.
Providers will also be on hand to help with the paperwork. Other forms of training include online courses, in college and courses that can be delivered directly in the workplace.
Dorset Chamber has an important role in helping facilitate a conversation between business and education. If you’d like to find out more about training for your business, please do get in touch.
Finally the Dorset Apprenticeship Awards are still open for entry until 15th March.
The Awards are free to enter for all businesses and apprentices in Dorset and celebrate the achievements of apprentices in the workplace. You can see more information on the Dorset Chamber website.
