Skills hub
Whether you’re looking to refocus and adapt your business strategy, upskill team members or simply learn something new – now may be the ideal time to explore the training and skills development opportunities available for your business.
There are a wide range of topics to explore – everything from resilience and recovery, to developing a digital marketing strategy and looking after the mental wellbeing of your team. Support is available on a local, regional and national level with many opportunities for free training and partly or fully funded courses.
Here you will find an overview of the range of opportunities available for you and your team to learn new skills and develop your business.
If you would like to discuss with us any other training or skills development requirements your business has please contact us on business@makeityork.com
Growing Your Business
There are a number of ways you can get support to grow your business:
You can develop your workforce by taking on apprentices (of any age).
Depending on the size of your business and the age of the apprentice(s) you hire, 95%-100% of the cost of apprenticeship training will be covered.
- If you have fewer than 50 employees, the cost of apprenticeship training for 16-18 year olds you is fully funded.
- If you are a levy paying organisation, you will fund the full training costs for apprentices of all ages, through the levy.
- As a levy paying employer, City of York Council is able to support local businesses to hire new apprentices by transferring unallocated funds to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), public sector and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSE). Applications for the current round of funding can be made between 17 May to 30 June 2021.
If you hire a new apprentice before 30 September 2021, you will also receive the following financial incentives:
- Employer incentive of £3,000 for hiring a new apprentice.
- Plus an additional £1,000 if that apprentice is aged 16-18
You and you apprentice(s) will also be supported by an approved training provider.
York Apprenticeship Hub or your chosen training provider can support you to attract and recruit the right candidates.
Next Steps
To find out how an apprentice could benefit your business and the support available, contact Bob Watmore for impartial advice and guidance or visit the York Apprenticeship Hub..
Develop a future workforce and create new roles for jobseekers aged 16-24 through high quality, 6-month work placements.
Support
You will receive funding for each eligible job, to cover:
- 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage for 25 hours a week
- associated employer National Insurance contributions
- employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions.
On top of the wage subsidy, £1,500 per job placement is also available for setup costs, support and training, which includes helping participants to develop the skills and experience they need to find work after completing the scheme.
Candidates
You will interview around 6 applicants matched by the DWP Work Coach, and select the best candidate for the role.
This scheme is designed to support young people who are currently on Universal credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.
The job placements should support the participants to develop the skills and experience they need to find work after completing the scheme, which will not necessarily be within your organisation.
Next steps
Whether you can offer 1 job or 100, your participation in the Kickstart scheme is invaluable to young people in York. However, the way in which you proceed does depend on the number of opportunities you will have available:
30+ jobs
You can apply directly here or if you need any help, contact Bob Watmore.
1 - 29 jobs
If your organisation is creating fewer than 30 Kickstart job placements, you can now choose to apply direct or partner with others through an approved Gateway organisation, which could include:
- similar employers
- local authorities
- trade bodies
- registered charities
Find Gateway organisations here.
Through either route, you will be expected to provide participants with agreed employability and skills training.
To register your interest in offering placements, please contact northeast.kickstart@dwp.gov.uk
Opportunity
You can develop a future workforce and give your current employees experience in mentoring through a flexible, business-focussed development programme.
Support
Traineeships are funded by Government and trainees do not receive salary.
If you make new work placements available you may also receive an incentive payment of £1,000.
You and you trainee(s) will be supported by an approved training provider throughout the programme, which can last from 6 weeks to 1 year (although most will last for less than 6 months).
Candidates
Traineeships help 16 to 24 year olds - or 25 year olds with an education, health and care (EHC) plan - get ready for an apprenticeship or job if they don’t have the appropriate skills or experience.
Next steps
To find out how a trainee could benefit your business or to explore other ways to offer work experience, contact Bob Watmore.
- Project based internships 4- 12-weeks in length, minimum 120 hours, June - September 2021
- Internship are delivered mainly part-time but could be full-time
- Full recruitment management, from advertising to contracting
- Shortlisting by the YSJ Internship Team to an agreed number
- Students paid via university payroll
- Access to funding to support your internship costs
Training Opportunities
Local training providers are adapting their provision to support York’s businesses with a range of online resources including webinars and short courses for business leaders and employees.
For impartial recruitment or skills support (including apprenticeships, traineeships and work placements), contact City of York Council’s Employer Engagement Adviser, Bob Watmore:
T: 07769 640241
Pro-Development is offering a range of employee engagement and development programmes to support you, your managers/leaders and the business to becoming a high performing workplace. From 1:1 coaching sessions, through to team events and 7-month experiential leadership programmes, each are aimed at helping individuals and teams bring out the best in each other and drive business growth. Pro-Development are also one of only a small number of providers who can currently offer fully funded Back to Business peer to peer groups from September 2020 and 40% funded mentoring for individuals through the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges which covers SMEs across the region.
Cost: Costs vary for each programme, some are fully funded but many are eligible for 40% funding.
Examples of training available: Empowering Leaders outdoor/experiential 7 month programme with coaching, coaching, mentoring, 6-12 week online short modules on leading and managing, team building and employee engagement programmes
Find out more: https://www.pro-development.co.uk or call us on 01904 928838
Quantum Vantage is offering a range of personal development and coaching programmes focusing on transforming your business and empowering you to make change.
Cost: Fully and part-funded
Examples of training available: Women in the Workplace, Business Transformation, Future Female Leader and Personal Transformation.
Find out more: https://quantumvantage.co.uk/
The University of York has developed a suite of free short online learning sessions to support local businesses. These courses, a mix of live and pre-recorded content, are written and developed by University of York staff and tutors and cover a wide range of topics.
Cost: Free
Examples of training available: Time management, agile management, managing change, thinking differently, reviewing and resetting marketing strategy and activity during COVID-19.
Find out more: www.york.ac.uk/online-training
In addition,the University of York is also working with Product and Process Innovation (PAPI) to deliver online innovation workshops. Find out more: https://york.papi.org.uk/innovation-workshops-3/
York St John can help you meet your training and development needs and are working hard to implement alternative ways to deliver courses remotely.
Examples of training available: Anger management, Futures & Foresight, Military Human, Strengthening Personal Resilience, Challenging Conversations, Coping with Change, Leadership & Management, Project Management.
The University offers bespoke training which is tailored to meet your individual needs. It offers a flexible approach to training, allowing you to experiment with a non-accredited short course before progressing as far as an MSc if you wish, at a pace which suits you.
Find out more at https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/business-support/develop-your-people/
Email business@yorksj.ac.uk with any questions about professional training and development.
York College is offering a range of individually priced Business and Professional Short Courses, plus more than 45 online Continuous Professional Development courses
Cost: Costs are individually priced depending on the duration and accreditation starting from £20. Please check on the link below or contact York College direct for more information. Introductory offer of any 4 modules for £60.
Examples of short courses available: Management & Supervisory Skills, How to use social media to improve your company’s visibility, Microsoft Office skills, IOSH, Supporting Mental Health, Accounting and Finance, Childcare and Education, Leadership and Management, Health and Social Care, Personal Development and Employability, Health and Wellbeing
Link: http://www.yorkcollege.ac.uk/course-types/431-employers/employer-work-placements
York Learning offers a selection of courses and services which can be delivered remotely to flexible timescales – including free opportunities in English and maths and a flexible ICT programme.
Cost: Costs vary for each course. Please contact York Learning direct or check on the link below for more information.
Examples of training available: ICT, Maths, English & ESOL, Family Learning, Counselling and Information, Advice & Guidance (IAG)
Find out more: https://yorklearning.org.uk/business/
York SMEs are also able to access skills support from two Local Enterprise Partnerships and other regional partners – including a range of fully funded training courses, peer to peer sessions and digital training.
Skills Support for the Workforce
If you’re an SME based in York, North Yorkshire or East Riding, you may be eligible for free training through Skills Support for the Workforce, created to help small to medium-sized employers turn their business growth plans into reality by upskilling their existing workforce.
The programme helps employers to identify their skills gaps and recommend bespoke training plans which will give their workforce the skills they need to grow the business.
Examples of fully-funded training available:
- leadership and management
- digital marketing and social media
- healthcare
- construction
- customer service
Check eligibility and find out more
Coronavirus – Skills and Community resource
Y&NY Growth Hub has created a Coronavirus – Skills and Community resource detailing funding and grants for skills & training and community organisations in the York and North Yorkshire region.
The LEP offers free webinars for business on business development and skills:
Go Global
This webinar series is delivered by Umi on behalf of the LEP to help businesses internationalise their marketing in response to the UK’s new global trading relationship. The webinars are available to watch on-demand.
Digital Knowledge Exchange
Digital Enterprise are offering a range of free Digital Knowledge Exchange webinars for SMEs within Leeds City Region, covering a variety of digital topics from website design and Facebook advertising to vlogging and Google My Business.
Harrogate Business Advisors Ltd helps SME business owners increase profit and create more time for themselves.
Specialists in accelerating growth and increasing sales, this is a unique training offer based on the aspirations of the business owner and tailored to the individual. The duration of training will depend on the needs of the business and the trainees so it starts with a no obligation ‘discovery’ session where costs and funding will be explained.
Cost: vary depending on training required but part-funded courses are available.
BlueRidge provide learning and development services to help businesses grow through developing their people; building capacity, knowledge, skills, competence and confidence.
BlueRidge are approved providers of Mental Health First Aid England licensed courses, with current courses being delivered online.
On a national level, businesses can benefit from a wide variety of free courses organised by the Government that cover a diverse range of topics. In addition to this, many industry bodies and other national organisations are offering accredited and non-accredited training support.
An online learning platform with a range of free courses to help boost the nation’s skills while people are staying at home, has been launched which on the gov.uk website. The new ‘Skills Toolkit’ platform gives people access to free, high-quality digital and numeracy courses to help build up their skills, progress in work and boost their job prospects.
Cost: Free
Examples of training available: Social media, learning how to code for data analysis, creating a professional online presence and the fundamentals of digital marketing.
Find out more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-free-online-learning-platform-to-boost-workplace-skills
The Department of International Trade are offering a range of webinars to support SME’s to adapt and grow their business, drive sales and develop marketing and communication strategies.
Cost: Free
Examples of training available: Logistics & movement of goods during COVID-19, risk management when considering new markets, managing disruption of supply chains during COVID-19.
Eligibility criteria: UK SMEs
Find out more: https://www.events.great.gov.uk/ehome/trade-events-calendar/all-events/index.php
The Federation of Small Businesses has created a skills hub to support members with the resources needed to ensure business continuity and to help you build and grow your business in the future. Find answers to your legal questions, demystify the digital world and learn how to build a robust business model.
Find out more: https://www.fsb.org.uk/skills-hub.html
For further information on the types of support currently available to CITB employers please go to https://www.citb.co.uk/urgent-messages/ or contact your local CITB representative.
Local training providers are adapting their provision to support York’s businesses with a range of online resources including webinars and short courses for business leaders and employees.
For impartial recruitment or skills support (including apprenticeships, traineeships and work placements), contact City of York Council’s Employer Engagement Adviser, Bob Watmore:
T: 07769 640241
Pro-Development is offering a range of employee engagement and development programmes to support you, your managers/leaders and the business to becoming a high performing workplace. From 1:1 coaching sessions, through to team events and 7-month experiential leadership programmes, each are aimed at helping individuals and teams bring out the best in each other and drive business growth. Pro-Development are also one of only a small number of providers who can currently offer fully funded Back to Business peer to peer groups from September 2020 and 40% funded mentoring for individuals through the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges which covers SMEs across the region.
Cost: Costs vary for each programme, some are fully funded but many are eligible for 40% funding.
Examples of training available: Empowering Leaders outdoor/experiential 7 month programme with coaching, coaching, mentoring, 6-12 week online short modules on leading and managing, team building and employee engagement programmes
Find out more: https://www.pro-development.co.uk or call us on 01904 928838
Quantum Vantage is offering a range of personal development and coaching programmes focusing on transforming your business and empowering you to make change.
Cost: Fully and part-funded
Examples of training available: Women in the Workplace, Business Transformation, Future Female Leader and Personal Transformation.
Find out more: https://quantumvantage.co.uk/
The University of York has developed a suite of free short online learning sessions to support local businesses. These courses, a mix of live and pre-recorded content, are written and developed by University of York staff and tutors and cover a wide range of topics.
Cost: Free
Examples of training available: Time management, agile management, managing change, thinking differently, reviewing and resetting marketing strategy and activity during COVID-19.
Find out more: www.york.ac.uk/online-training
In addition,the University of York is also working with Product and Process Innovation (PAPI) to deliver online innovation workshops. Find out more: https://york.papi.org.uk/innovation-workshops-3/
York St John University is offering a three-work short course in digital, designed to provide learners with insight and understanding into a range of processes and activities focused on digital marketing. The course will support you in developing digital marketing strategy and give you experience of the tools and tactics that can be used to communicate effectively with your audiences and customers online
Cost: Free
Eligibility criteria: There are no pre-requisites for this course.
Find out more: https://digital.yorksj.ac.uk/short-course-overview/
York College is offering a range of individually priced Business and Professional Short Courses, plus more than 45 online Continuous Professional Development courses
Cost: Costs vary for each course. Please check on the link below or contact York College direct for more information
Examples of short courses available: Management & Supervisory Skills, How to use social media to improve your company’s visibility, Microsoft Office skills, IOSH, Supporting Mental Health
Cost: Introductory offer of any 4 modules for £60
Subjects covered: Accounting and Finance, Childcare and Education, Leadership and Management, Health and Social Care, Personal Development and Employability, Health and Wellbeing
York Learning offers a selection of courses and services which can be delivered remotely to flexible timescales – including free opportunities in English and maths and a flexible ICT programme.
Cost: Costs vary for each course. Please contact York Learning direct or check on the link below for more information.
Examples of training available: ICT, Maths, English & ESOL, Family Learning, Counselling and Information, Advice & Guidance (IAG)
Find out more: https://yorklearning.org.uk/business/
York SMEs are also able to access skills support from two Local Enterprise Partnerships and other regional partners – including a range of fully funded training courses, peer to peer sessions and digital training.
If you’re an SME based in York, North Yorkshire or East Riding, you may be eligible for free training through the Skills Support for the Workforce project. Training is funded by the European Social Fund and the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
Cost: Fully funded
Examples of training available: Customer Services, Logistics, Business Administration, Team Leading, Resilience and Recovery in Business, Digital Productivity, Promotion and Growth, and Health Care courses including Coronavirus (Covid-19) and Pandemic Awareness, Customer Service, Logistics (theory), Business Administration and Team Leading.
Eligibility criteria: Small to medium-sized businesses in York, North Yorkshire and East Riding seeking training to support a business growth plan.
Find out more: https://ssw.fundingunit.org.uk/areas/ynyer/
The York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub has also created a new Learning Toolkit to help businesses and employees in York and the wider region access online learning resources during these difficult times.
Find out more: https://www.ynygrowthhub.com/how-we-can-help/coronavirus/coronavirus-skills-community/learning-toolkit/
The LEP is offering a range of webinars and free weekly peer-to-peer sessions – providing business owners across the city region an opportunity to share ideas, raise issues, gain new insights and collaborate.
Cost: Free
Examples of training available: Leadership groups, planning for a phased lockdown exit, leading your team into recovery and best practices for marketing during and after COVID-19.
Eligibility criteria: SMEs within Leeds City Region boundaries
Find out more here: https://www.the-lep.com/business-support/events/webinar-peer-to-peer-discussions/ and register to attend webinars here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/winning-pitch-30137500028
Harrogate Business Advisors Ltd helps SME business owners increase profit and create more time for themselves.
Cost: Costs vary depending on training required but part-funded courses are available
Subjects covered: Specialists in accelerating growth and increasing sales. A unique training offer based on the aspirations of the business owner and tailored to the individual. The duration of training will depend on the needs of the business and the trainees so it starts with a no obligation ‘discovery’ session where costs and funding will be explained.
Link: https://www.hbadvisors.co.uk/
Blue Ridge Performance Management Ltd provide learning and development services to help businesses grow through developing their people; building capacity, knowledge, skills, competence and confidence.
Subjects covered: Blue Ridge are specialists in Mental Health Awareness and Mental Health First Aid. Join the upcoming Mental Health First Aider courses which will be running each month (August to October). The course is made up of four live sessions (approx. 2.5 hours each) and costs £200. Find out more.
Other subjects include: Leadership training, Business Coaching, and Personality Profiling. Costs of other training varies.
Upcoming Mental Health First Aid Online course in September. The course qualifies delegates as Mental Health First Aiders. Delegates will need to be available for 4 live sessions and to complete individual learning in between the live sessions.
Please find dates of the live online sessions below:
MHFA COURSE September:
Tuesday September 22: 9am – 11.15am
Friday September 25: 9am – 11.30am
Monday September 28: 9am – 11.15am
Thursday October 1: 9am – 11.15am
MHFA COURSE October:
Tuesday October 6: 9am – 11.15am
Friday October 9: 9am – 11.30am
Tuesday October 13: 9am – 11.15am
Friday October 16: 9am – 11.15am
The course cost is £200 plus VAT.
Link: www.blue-ridge.co.uk
Digital Enterprise are offering a range of Digital Knowledge Exchange webinars on a variety of digital topics.
Cost: Free
Examples of training available: Customer engagement, business resilience, content marketing and digital marketing strategy – including areas such as getting your website found on Google and finding your target customers on social media.
Eligibility criteria: SME’s within Leeds City Region boundary.
Find out more: https://www.digitalenterprise.co.uk/digital-knowledge/events/.
Register here: https://www.digitalenterprise.co.uk/de2/
On a national level, businesses can benefit from a wide variety of free courses organised by the Government that cover a diverse range of topics. In addition to this, many industry bodies and other national organisations are offering accredited and non-accredited training support.
An online learning platform with a range of free courses to help boost the nation’s skills while people are staying at home, has been launched which on the gov.uk website. The new ‘Skills Toolkit’ platform gives people access to free, high-quality digital and numeracy courses to help build up their skills, progress in work and boost their job prospects.
Cost: Free
Examples of training available: Social media, learning how to code for data analysis, creating a professional online presence and the fundamentals of digital marketing.
Find out more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-free-online-learning-platform-to-boost-workplace-skills
The Department of International Trade are offering a range of webinars to support SME’s to adapt and grow their business, drive sales and develop marketing and communication strategies.
Cost: Free
Examples of training available: Logistics & movement of goods during COVID-19, risk management when considering new markets, managing disruption of supply chains during COVID-19.
Eligibility criteria: UK SMEs
Find out more: https://www.events.great.gov.uk/ehome/trade-events-calendar/all-events/index.php
The Federation of Small Businesses has created a skills hub to support members with the resources needed to ensure business continuity and to help you build and grow your business in the future. Find answers to your legal questions, demystify the digital world and learn how to build a robust business model.
Find out more: https://www.fsb.org.uk/skills-hub.html
For further information on the types of support currently available to CITB employers please go to https://www.citb.co.uk/urgent-messages/ or contact your local CITB representative.