Growing Your Business
Recruitment, skills and staff development

So you've created your business but now need to develop a fantastic team to really get things going. First of all, make sure you're up to date with employment law by visiting this Government website for a handy guide. 

Staff development

Employers in Fenland have traditionally chosen to invest in their staff last year, Fenland had higher rates of job-related training across all ages and qualification levels than within the UK. This is one of the most effective ways you can improve your workforce and business as it serves both your business' needs whilst also helping your staff realise their own ambitions and take on new challenges.

Work is already underway to help prepare the next generation for work, with regional services, such as The Skills Service creating a more joined up vision for education by listening to businesses and collaborating with local education providers.

Developing partnerships with local education centres can prove really fruitful for growing businesses. Education centres such as the College of West Anglia in Fenland, offer courses for business professionals that can help bridge skills gaps within your workforce. They may also be able to provide links to specialists in certain fields if they have ties with innovative and forward thinking projects. Across Cambridgeshire there are numerous education centres who can support your business and Fenland for Business can guide you on where to go for support.

If you're looking to hire a specialist, an agency may be best placed to find the right person for the job. Talk to Fenland for Business about the options available to you we'll put you in touch with the most appropriate contacts to help with recruitment for specialist roles.

Peer networking groups may also prove a useful way to gain insight into your industry and develop knowledge in a new area of expertise. Rather than sitting in a class and taking notes, peer networking groups place more of an onus on members to learn and discuss material to improve their own understanding of topics and processes. To find out more about local peer networking groups and how they could help you, contact Fenland for Business.

Apprenticeships

Apprentices can be a fantastic investment for start-ups. The government has invested over £1 billion into various kick-starts and initiatives on schemes that promote apprenticeships. Apprentices can benefit businesses in a number of ways:

• You can tailor the apprenticeship so that the apprentice learns the skills that work best for your business through on-the-job training and classroom learning.
• Ensuring your workforce has the practical skills and qualifications your organisation needs will help future-proof your business and can reduce your long-term training and recruitment costs.
• Apprentices come to a role with a fresh pair of eyes. Unencumbered from past experience, they are going to have their own opinions and perceptions of how your business works. They often have an unbridled optimism for implementing new ideas which could open your own staff's eyes to new possibilities and encourage you to take on ventures you might never have explored.
• It doesn't have to break the bank - several grants and incentives have been put in place by the government to help businesses create apprenticeships. Find out more about apprenticeships by clicking here. 

Learning Locally

With the College of West Anglia in Fenland and education centres such as Peterborough Regional College and Ely College in Cambridgeshire within easy reach, your workforce can learn close to home. These providers offer a variety of professional training courses to help up-skill the existing workforce in our region.

The College of West Anglia has recently completed a £7 million specialist manufacturing and engineering training facility, and experts like The Skills Service are working with schools and businesses to create a work-ready population.

Further specialist training and higher level qualifications such as degrees and higher level apprenticeships may also prove an effective avenue. For additional guidance and support about up-skilling your workforce, talk to Fenland for Business:

Email: business@fenland.gov.uk 

Call: +44 (0) 1354 622506