The National Skills Academy Process Industries has launched a 'pay as you go' Business Partner scheme, with a view to giving businesses access to affordable training and skills support from top process industry experts.

The academy's new service is "designed to offer businesses from sole traders up to multi-national organisations a cost-effective way of accessing a package of practical support that will boost their skills levels and make their businesses more competitive".

Based on a graduated fee system according to staff numbers, starting at £100 a month, employers receive discounts on academy products and access to accredited consultancy, training and skills development services.

Membership also gives employers the chance to join regional skills networking groups and "take charge of shaping the skills agenda throughout their own sector", according to the academy.

Academy CEO Phil Jones said: "This 'pay as you go' option will help employers keep a tight rein on cashflow, without missing out on essential support for their skills development activities.

"We have deliberately made this a low-cost high-value service to give smaller businesses the same advantages as large organisations. They effectively have all the services of an in-house skills training manager, without the cost of adding to their headcount."

"We know that employers are spending over £650m a year on training and
development in an effort to create a world-beating workforce. Our mission is to work alongside them to make sure their individual investments pay off, and that the [process industries] as a whole maintain the shift towards upskilling the workforce and boosting the fortunes of this vital sector.

Source Article
prw.com