Skills for small business

Small and medium sized businesses across South East England are benefiting from highly skilled training thanks to STFC’s Skills for Technology project.

STFC’s project won funding from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and the European Social Fund (ESF) worth almost £900,000. The money will be used by STFC partner organisations to train employees from high-tech businesses in ICT, electronics and advanced instrumentation.

The project began in November 2008 and will run until the end of 2010. “In that time training will be given to 900 people from at least 300 businesses,” said Sam Oliver, STFC’s Campus Skills Development Manager.

“Training is important, especially during an economic down turn. We will deliver the training flexibly at the employee’s workplace, at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus or at one of our partner sites across the region,” she added.

STFC is in partnership with Aylesbury Training Group, Oxford and Cherwell Valley College and Engineering Prospects. These partners will develop and deliver the industry-led training programmes that will result in specialist qualifications.

The topics and skills available are in demand by employers and include Java programming, vacuum technologies, electro-pneumatic hydraulics and control, laboratory technician expertise and electronic measurement and testing techniques.

STFC is the lead organisation managing this project and, by promoting highly skilled training, hopes to raise the profile of science and technology across the South East of England.

Information on the STFC's Skills for Technology project

• The STFC Skills for Technology project won almost £900,000 to train employees from small and medium sized businesses in the South East of England
  
  
• Highly skilled training will be given to 900 people from at least 300 businesses
  
  
• The training will result in specialist qualifications in ICT, electronics and advanced instrumentation
  
  
• Training will take place at the employee’s workplace, one of the partner sites or at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus