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£9m skills programme continues to support small businesses in the North East

A skills support programme that helps businesses fill their skills gaps is encouraging more small business owners to register for support.

Now in its second year of delivery, the North East Ambition programme has helped 270 businesses train and upskill their staff. Through the programme, businesses can access free, one-to-one support from an experienced adviser around recruitment, training, and funding.

Contract manager for the North East Ambition programme, Jo Gonzalez Chamberlain, said:

“Many small business owners struggle to find the time to access the range of support available to help them grow and develop. We can help businesses understand the skills they need and provide them with the information, resources, and specialists to support them.

“Whether they need advice around what job roles to recruit for, which training courses are best for their team, or other business support including marketing, HR or financial management, we can point them in the right direction.”

Delivered in partnership with the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, the North East Ambition programme is part of the North East Strategic Economic Plan to ensure that demand for skills and the quality of jobs continue to improve, leading to a more productive, inclusive, and sustainable regional economy. Part funded by the European Social Fund, the three-year programme is available to SME’s based in Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle, South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and Durham.

Kelly’s Heroes, a private tuition company in Low Fell and Ponteland, is just one of the businesses that have benefitted from joining the programme.

As a result of the support, owner Kelly Maxwell was able to provide training for her team, as well as receiving advice and guidance with marketing the expansion of her growing business.

She said:

“All of the help and support received through the North East Ambition programme has been invaluable in supporting my business development and improving my skills as a manager. It has allowed us to find the additional training needed for our team, so that we are able to continue to grow and expand and be the best that we can be.”

To find out how your business can join the programme, get in touch here.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Education Development Trust .