- TRAINING BOOST TO CULTURE WIN
A NEW £12.5 million training scheme will provide a crucial boost for Liverpool's Capital of Culture year in 2008, according to tourism bosses.
The SkillWorks, which was launched by the Learning and Skills Council earlier this year, with the support of the European Social Fund, is a user-driven training scheme to meet the needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Greater Merseyside area.
The programme will fund 80 per cent of the cost of training and skills development; the company needs to find just 20 per cent of the cost.
The programme is entirely dictated by the SME. After training needs analysis businesses can access the specific training needed by their employees to meet their business objectives.
Andrea Higginson, tourism skills coordinator for England's Northwest Tourism Skills Network, based at The Mersey Partnership, is compiling a research report into the exact skills needs of the industry but says The SkillWorks will be an invaluable tool in reaching training targets.
Some of the key areas for training are customer care, communication skills, cultural awareness and language skills.
"The impact of Capital of Culture has heightened the need for Merseyside to work on what is missing, it has made people more aware of the issues,"
she said.
"We are expecting a considerable rise in the number of visitors to the city, which will see a great expansion of the sector. This means existing skill issues will be magnified.
Generally across the city there is a need for customer care training. Relating specifically to the win, cultural awareness will be an issue. An understanding of people's individual cultural needs will be necessary to ensure they feel welcome on their visits, as will a basic grasp of more common languages.
Another contributor to the skills gap is that traditionally SMEs don't have big training budgets. Therefore it is welcome news that they will only have to fund 20 per cent of the training through The SkillWorks.
The fact that The SkillWorks offers SMEs so much flexibility is also a real advantage. Their staff can do short courses which won't require examinations but will give them the necessary training. They won't have to go for a particular recognised course, just one which will equip them with the skills they need."
The tourism industry is one of the key areas for The SkillWorks because of its high staff turnover rates and seasonal variations.
Bitesize delivery is an important part of The SkillWorks offer to SMEs in this sector and training partners will be looking to achieve flexible delivery times and places, which are convenient to businesses.
Further information contact:- Rachel Smith or Emma
Davidson at Paver Downes Associates on:- 0151 293 0505 Email:-
rachel@paverdownes.co.uk
or emma@paverdownes.co.uk
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- GIVE YOUR GRANDKIDS A ROLLOVER NOT A SLEEPOVER THIS CHRISTMAS
Grannies and Grandads in Southport stuck for a gift for their grandchildren this Christmas are being advised by Yorkshire Building Society (0845 1200 100) to think of their young relatives futures, rather than just the present, and to purchase a gift that will grow with the child.
Whilst Mums and Dads will, on average, spend £200 on their offspring this Christmas, with many dashing round the toy shops to grab their "top-ten" best-sellers of the year, Grannies and Grandads will probably be focusing on one meaningful gift, or gesture.
Options range from offering them a pair of designer trainers, their team's football shirt, computer games and DVDs and videos or, in some cases, the treat of a sleepover. The common denominator is a lack of longevity and, usually, depreciation rather than appreciation.
Children's designer trainers cost up to £50, are likely to last 2-3 months, with a boys' feet growing up to an age of 17 and a girl's up to an age of 15. a football shirt's life can be even shorter is a player moves clubs, or a new strip is launched. Once a DVD has been viewed for 2 hours, it has little appeal and a computer game's attraction might have faded by New Year.
Yorkshire Building Society, which has a branch in Southport, is reminding those looking for a gift that will last longer than the twelve days of Christmas that it's not just 'adults' who can derive financial benefit from a fixed rate savings bond.
With the Yorkshire Building Society 'Treasure Bond', a child aged up to 12 will benefit from a yearly rollover that will see their own little pot of savings growing, year on year, as they themselves mature. This can teach a child about the benefits of saving, as well as ensuring that there is a fund they can tap in to when they do want something special.
The Treasure Bond offers one of the best children's savings rates available within the UK, paying a gross Annual Equivalent Rate of 4.50% interest, usually tax free. It can be opened in the name of a child, or that of a trustee for a child, and held until the child reaches the age of 21. In a this way, whilst it is usually given as a gift, it can also be kept as a surprise - perhaps as a special birthday present.
The Bond can be opened with as little as £100 and earns a fixed rate of interest. The term of the Bond runs from the date it is opened until the end of the corresponding month one year later.
At the end of this term, the holder can either let the Bond rollover into a new issue for a further year at a new fixed rate, add more money to the Bond for the new term, withdrawn some money and leave the rest for another year, or close the Bond. When the Bond is closed, the child will get all of the investment plus interest that has accrued.
Wise young investors can also open their own Treasure Bond, from the age of eight.
Details of the treasure Bond can be obtained from any Yorkshire Building Society branch or agency, by ringing 0845 1200 100.
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