Skills Academy launches pay-as-you-go scheme
2 Mar 2010
Newcastle, UK – The National Skills Academy Process Industries (NSAPI) has launched a ’pay-as-you-go’ scheme, to give businesses access to affordable training and skills support from process industry experts.
The Business Partner service is designed to offer all organisations of all sizes, from sole traders to multi-nationals, a cost-effective way of accessing a package of practical support, said the Academy. This, it hopes, will boost their skills levels and make their businesses more competitive.
Based on a three-tier system according to the number of staff employed and starting at just £100 a month, employers receive discounts on Academy products - which were designed in partnership with employers themselves - plus access to a range of expert consultancy and skills development services.
Discounted products include ASET, an accreditation of prior learning scheme that assesses and accredits previously delivered training and identifies any gaps; and Skills Passport, a portable, online training and skills management and record system for staff and employers. Membership also gives employers the chance to join regional skills networking groups and take charge of shaping the skills agenda throughout their own sector.
Those businesses with an identified training need can be matched up with the Academy’s bank of accredited training and development providers and education centres, which have all been through rigorous assessment in order to achieve the Academy stamp of quality, according to Phil Jones CEO of the NSAPI.
“In the same way that we have created our products and services, we have designed this scheme by asking employers what they need, and how they would like it delivered,” said Jones. “This ’pay as you go’ option will help them keep a tight rein on cashflow, without missing out on essential support for their skills development activities.”
The service is being offered at a low-cost in order to give smaller businesses the same advantages as large organisations, continues the Academy boss, noting that SMEs can effectively get all the services of an in-house skills training manager, without the cost of adding to the headcount.
“We know that employers are spending over £650m a year on training and development in an effort to create a world-beating workforce,” concluded Jones. Our mission is to work alongside them to make sure their individual investment pays off and that the industry as a whole maintains the shift towards upskilling the workforce and boosting the fortunes of this vital sector.”
