Developing your business through Skills
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Who we are Skills Solutions is a not for profit company,
As part of the Manchester Growth Group of
specialising in recruitment, Apprenticeships and
companies we are able to offer our employers more
training, ensuring you have access to a workforce
than training services. We can draw upon the
with the right skills to improve your performance -
extensive resources across the Group connecting
now and in the future. We are one of the biggest
you to a wide range of business support services,
Apprenticeship and Traineeship providers in the
including business advice and networking events.
North West. In short, we deliver a comprehensive range of By accessing Government funding we can help you
services to help you improve your bottom line.
to reduce the financial pressures you face when
Our overarching aim is to develop your business,
recruiting and training your staff, enabling you to
through skills.
compete and thrive in the market place.
• Apprenticeship Recruitment • Trainee work placement service • Training to develop your workforce (including Government funded) • Short Business Courses • Regulatory Training • Foundation and Honours Degrees Since the year 2000 we have worked with over 15,000 employers providing valuable recruitment solutions and high quality training programmes. We have supported over 75,000 employees to increase their skill level and reach their full potential, even win national awards - so we are a safe pair of hands for the recruitment and development of your workforce.
“Skills Solutions has outstanding arrangements to meet the needs of learners and employers. It contributes significantly to meeting regional skills development and regeneration”
OFSTED “Skills Solutions did a great job of helping us find the perfect candidate. Sian has fit in at Fluid from day one and has become an asset to our business, adding genuine value by using her initiative and creativity to develop and contribute her own ideas on how to improve our in-house marketing.”
Chris Kershaw, Fluid Creativity Marketing Apprenticeship
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Who we are
Our services include:
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Why we’re different One Stop Shop
Account Managed Service
We can help you recruit and train across a wide
Your dedicated Account Manager will ensure you
range of job roles and skills. Our broad vocational
receive consistent quality of service for all your
portfolio and comprehensive range of training
recruitment and training requirements.
means you benefit from a full training solution, which evolves with your business.
Flexible Delivery We can support your business training needs, when
First Class Training
and where you need it. We deliver the majority of our
We are highly rated by OFSTED, and have reached
training in the workplace and have fifteen
Fair Train and Matrix standards, offering you quality
training centres across the region. We recruit all
assured training delivery.
year round and have start dates throughout the year for all of our training courses and programmes.
Extensive Talent Pool As one of the biggest Apprenticeship and Trainee-
Direct Training Delivery
ship providers in the North West, when you recruit
When you train with us you will deal directly with
with us we give access to the best Apprenticeship
the training professionals who teach your staff, this
and Traineeship candidates in the region. Our
means you can closely influence how skills are
established links with schools & colleges and
developed within your business.
hosting the largest recruitment database of young people in the region mean we can select the best talent for your company.
Like Apprenticeships Shop Our unique Like Apprenticeships Shop, in central
Why we’re different
Manchester is the first of its kind in the country,
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and enables you to advertise your vacancies in a prime city centre location free of charge and speed up the recruitment process.
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What we offer When you recruit and train with us we support the development of your workforce, from trainee level upwards. We work with you and your employees to develop long term training plans which progress the skills and expertise within your business to higher and management level. You can find a full list of our training provision on pages 14-15.
Higher Education
Higher Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships
What we offer
Advanced Apprenticeships
Traineeships/ Work Experience
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Apprenticeship Recruitment An Apprenticeship is a job ‘with training’ including
leave education. We also provide high
industry-approved qualifications that provide
quality programmes including employability courses
structured training for your new recruits or current
upfront, ensuring the candidates we put forward to
staff members.
our employers are work ready.
Apprenticeships offer you a cost effective way to train your employees so they have the right skills and knowledge to do their job, and are committed to your business. As one of the largest Apprenticeship providers in the North West we provide a free recruitment service for a wide range of Apprenticeship job roles including: • Accounting and Financial Services • Automotive • Business & Administration • Construction • Contact Centre, Customer Service & Telesales • Engineering • Health & Social Care, Childcare and Teaching
Apprenticeship Recruitment
• Hairdressing and Barbering
“Our own Apprenticeship scheme has run like a dream for 3 years, this has a lot to do with our provider, Skills Solutions. They have taken on the huge bureaucratic burden involved for us, they are extremely credible as all their people are experienced in our industry and qualified. I have not found any other provider like them to date”
Anne Entwistle, Learning and Development Manager, Bluefin Insurance
• Human Resources • IT and Web Development • Legal • Manufacturing and Logistics • Team Leading, Management and Enterprise • Marketing and Social Media & Digital Marketing Our full portfolio is listed in the guide on pages 14-19. To secure the best local talent for our employers we handpick high calibre young people well before they
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Apprenticeship Recruitment - How it works We offer a professional no cost recruitment service and will take your new recruit though a structured training programme.
Step 1 - Job description and Training
Step 5 - Testing and Short-listing
We will work with you to draw up a job description for your vacancy and agree the most appropriate training programme for you and your Apprentice.
We will short-list the candidates that best match your requirements and undertake a structured assessment with each candidate, including aptitude and skills testing where needed.
Step 2 - Funding and Grants We will assess your eligibility for funding and any wage incentives to support salary costs. Training and qualification costs are fully funded by the Government in most cases. If you take on an adult, however, you may be required to pay a small contribution towards the training.
Step 6 - Interview and Offer We will set up interviews so you can select the most suitable candidate for your role, make an offer and then agree a start date.
Step 7 - Induction and Training Our industry specialist staff will advise you on the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage and provide guidance on a suitable salary for your position given the type of Apprenticeship, level of job role and candidate specification you are looking for.
Step 4 - Advertise When you recruit with us, we will advertise your vacancies through our established school and 6th form networks, Jobcentre Plus, Connexions, National Apprenticeship service website and via our unique ‘Like Apprenticeships’ shop and newspaper, and extensive digital networks - all at no cost to you.
When your apprentice starts work you are responsible for their workplace induction. Your dedicated Skills Solutions assessor will meet with your Apprentice and their Line Manager to agree a training plan.
Step 8 - Apprenticeship Training Throughout the Apprenticeship our assessor will visit your employee in the workplace to guide them through the units of the qualification and provide regular progress updates to their Line Manager. Most of the qualification is delivered in the workplace or via our on-line learning platforms, but some off the job training may be required depending on the type of Apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship Recruitment How it works
Step 3 - Salary Level
Step 9 - Further Training When your Apprentice has completed their qualification we will work with you to diagnose any further training requirements and agree a bespoke progression plan for you and your employee.
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Trainee Recruitment If you’re not in a position to recruit an apprentice
Trainees are able to apply for a Bursary or
right now, why not recruit a trainee?
Learning Grant, so there’s no direct cost to you. If you choose, you can support your trainee with
Introduced in 2013, Traineeships are part of the
some travel and lunch expenses.
Apprenticeship family and offer motivated candidates a structured training programme, including qualifications and work experience. We support trainees across all job roles and industries, giving you the opportunity to trial a potential employee before you commit to offering a full Apprenticeship. When you take on a trainee, we will place them with you on a work placement of between 5 weeks and 5 months. You provide a safe working environment and work experience which enables your trainee to gain a qualification whilst they are with you.
“We want to give young people the skills and confidence to find work. For us it’s about making a difference to them as an individual whilst giving them a chance to shine. This can be a stepping stone into the world of work and we can help break down the barriers young people face in gaining employment”
Rowena Barry, Manager, Marks and Spencer, Manchester
Traineeships are designed to give people the skills and experience that employers are looking for and are ideal for employers who are not in a position to recruit straight away but can provide a good
Trainee Recruitment
quality work experience placement. Offering a Traineeship can: •M ake a difference to a local person’s chances of getting a job •G ive you a free work trial which will improve staff
to Traineeships you are looking to develop into a Supervisory or retention when you do recruit
•O ffer mentoring opportunities for any of your staff
to Traineeships
Management role
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Tr ai
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s
p hi
‘Hard to fill’ or Volume Recruitment Whatever the size and nature of your business, recruiting for ‘hard to fill’ or multiple vacancies is a time consuming and costly business. Our pre-recruitment programmes are designed so we do the hard work for you, and provide you with a choice of well trained, motivated and enthusiastic candidates from which to make final appointments. All of our pre-recruitment training includes a strong focus on employability plus an accredited industry qualification from one of the following areas: • Care • Retail • Hospitality
“Our partnership with Skills Solutions has meant that those people who took part in the pre-employment training course, and progressed to working in our stores, got a great start to their new jobs. Skills Solutions’ capacity to deliver a very large volume of trained candidates in a short space of time was particularly useful to us as a business.”
Jo Frith, Partnership Manager, Tesco
• Business Administration • Contact Centre • Customer Services. Our carefully structured courses mean that when you recruit, you can rest assured that your new staff will be equipped with the skills and the confidence to
of e 68% mpl exp e r i diffi ence oyers c
r u reas lties a ecruitm to a on for nd the ent ma thi lac spe k of ne s is due in cial ces avai ist skill sary labl s e
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‘Hard to fill’ or Volume Recruitment
perform their jobs well.
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Training to Develop your Workforce Do your existing staff have the skills & qualifications they need to do their job? To help you keep ahead of your competitors and to support the continued development of your workforce we offer accredited qualifications across a wide range of business and industry sectors. A full list of our provision is on pages 14-19. The availability of funding for staff training can be complex, but we can help assess the support available for your businesses to up-skill your employees. We’ll carry out a full ‘Skills Analysis’ so we can
“Almost half of my staff have completed or have undertaken an award with Skills Solutions. As my business grows, I have found Skills Solutions to be professional and extremely supportive of both myself and my staff. Our Assessor is an invaluable source of information when it comes to the training and development of my employees.”
Deborah Button, Director, C & D Care Solutions, Bolton
diagnose which members of staff may have skills gaps and give you up to date advice on any Government and European funding that’s available to support the cost of this. We will design a training package to help you develop your workforce and improve staff productivity. Our training can include short courses and 6 – 12 month programmes across a variety of
Training to Develop your Workforce
levels, which are mainly delivered in your workplace.
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Short Business Courses With start dates throughout the year, we deliver a range of popular short courses designed to help you keep ahead of your competitors. Our business courses are delivered through our Churchgate Academy brand at our contemporary training suite in central Manchester. Our provision covers the essential skills and knowledge you need to run a successful business and include: • Sales & Marketing • Leadership & Management • Essential Business Skills • International Trade You may want us to come and talk to you about
“The course was delivered to a very high standard by knowledgeable trainers who have experience in trading internationally. The training helped us in becoming more confident in exporting, and also to source cheaper raw materials & packaging from outside of the EU. Skills Solutions offers a wide range of good, value-for-money training.”
Lee Kelly, Operations Manager, Hylomar Ltd
designing and delivering a bespoke programme for your business. Our tailored programmes will be specifically designed to meet your needs and can be run at any time of day or evening and delivered at your premises or one of our training venues. Together we will devise a bespoke training outcomes to your business. As a not-for-profit training provider we are able to offer our short business courses at competitive rates with discounts for Skills Solutions customers and those who have progressed from one our Apprenticeships or HE programmes. You will find a full list of our courses on page 14-15.
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Short Business Courses
programme that will deliver real benefits and
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Regulatory Training Don’t leave your business exposed. We deliver quality yet cost effective regulatory training to assist companies to comply with a wide range of business regulations. All our regulatory programmes are delivered through our Churchgate Academy and provide up-to-date practical guidance and support so that delegates can apply their learning back in the work place. The most popular areas of regulatory training we offer includes:
“The training was just what we needed, good quality, enjoyable and very beneficial for us. Our staff felt that the trainers were professional and pitched the course at just the right level for them.”
Paul Perkins, Quality and Compliance Manager, Medical Physics International Ltd
• Fire safety • Food safety • Health and safety • First aid • Environmental protection Many of our courses are nationally accredited through the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health or developed in partnership with the regulators. As a not-for-profit training provider we offer our
Regulatory Training
regulatory training at competitive rates with discounts on some of our courses for regular customers. We will explore funding opportunities and access funding where possible. We will help you make the most of your training budget. A full list of our regulatory training is on page 14-15.
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Professional Development & Degrees Foundation and Honours Degrees Under our Churchgate Academy brand we offer a range of part time degree programmes in Business Management, Early Years and Childhood Studies and Education awarded by our university partners, the University of Bolton and Staffordshire University. Sponsoring employees to complete a degree level qualification can bring enormous benefits for your business. We can help you to explore full or part sponsorship options or you may just want to encourage staff to continue their own development by offering them an agreed amount of study time
“The team now have the basic skills to enable them to deliver more engaging and quality training. Feedback from staff has acknowledged this change in approach to training with staff rating the training delivery as better than it has ever been! I’d like to thank Skills Solutions for tailoring the programme”
Karen Hancox Barringer at Autonet
off work. As all programmes are delivered in the evenings, there is no need to release employees from work to attend classes.
Professional Qualifications for Teachers and Trainers If your organisation employs staff in a teaching or training role, we also offer a full suite of development.
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Professional Development & Degrees
qualifications to support and accredit their
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Qualification & Training Index Training Requirement
qualification level
apprenticeship & trainee recruitment
Training Short for your Courses Workforce
Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
2&3
■
■
Bookkeeping & Accounts
2,3 & 4
■
■
Bricklaying
2&3
■
■
Business & Administration
1, 2, 3 & 4
■
■
Business Enterprise
3
■
■
Carpentry & Joinery
2&3
■
■
Childcare & Early Years
2 to Degree
■
■
Construction Multi Skills
1&2
■
■
Construction Site Supervision
3
■
■
Customer Service, Retail & Contact Centres
1, 2, 3 & 4
■
■
Electrical Installation
3
■
■
Engineering
2&3
■
■
Facilities Management
3
■
■
Financial Services, Insurance and Banking
2,3 & 4
■
■
Essential Business Skills
■
Qualification & Training Index
Fire Regulatory Training First Aid at Work
2&3
Floor Laying
2
Food Safety
2,3 & 4
■
■
■
■
■
■
■ ■
■
Gas
3
Gates, Posts and Fencing
1&2
Hairdressing & Barbering
1, 2 & 3
Health & Safety in the Workplace
2,3 & 4
Health & Social Care
1, 2 & 3
■
■ ■
■
■
Health & Social Care Mandatory Training
■
■
■
■
■ ■
Heating and Ventilation Systems
2&3
■
■
Highway Maintenance
2
■
■
Human Resources
5
■
■
International Trade
14
■
■
■
Forklift Truck Operation
■
■
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■
■
Training Requirement
qualification level
apprenticeship & trainee recruitment
Training Short for your Courses Workforce
IT
1, 2 & 3
■
■
Kitchen and Bathroom Fitting
2&3
■
■
Laboratory Technician
3
■
■
Leadership & Management
2 to Degree
■
■
Legal Services
3
■
■
Maintenance Operations
2
■
■
Manufacturing
2, 3 & 4
■
■
Marketing/Social Media
3
■
■
Painting & Decorating
2&3
■
■
Plant Maintenance
3
■
■
Plastering
2&3
■
■
Plumbing
2&3
■
■
Roofing Level
2&3
■
■
Sales & Telesales
1, 2
■
■
Scaffolding
2&3
■
■
Teaching & Learning
1 to degree
■
■
Vehicle Accident Repair
2&3
■
■
Vehicle Body and Paint Refinishing
2&3
■
■
Vehicle Maintenance & Repair
2&3
■
■
■
(Fitted Interiors)
■
■
■
Wall and Floor Tiling
2&3
■
■
Warehousing & Supply Chain Management
2, 3 & 5
■
■
Guide to Qualification Levels Level 1 - equivalent to GCSEs graded D-G Level 2 - equivalent to GCSEs graded A*-C and BTEC Firsts
Qualification & Training Index
Vehicle Refrigerant Handling
■
Level 3 - equivalent to AS/A levels and BTEC Nationals Level 4 - equivalent to Certificates of Higher Education Level 5 – equivalent to HNCs/HNDs and Foundation Degrees Level 6 – Bachelors’ degrees This information was accurate at the time of print however we are always expanding our provision. If you are interested in a type of training that is not listed in this index, please contact us to discuss and we will do our best to meet your needs. C a l l 0 1 6 1 2 3 3 2 6 5 6 o r e m a i l r e c r u i t m e n t @ s k i lls - s o l u t i o n s . o r g . u k
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Training is good for business Talk to us about how we can develop your business through skills. Call 0161 233 2656 Email recruitment@skills-solutions.org.uk www.skills-solutions.org.uk Or find us at: Skills Solutions, Lee House, 90 Great Bridgewater Street, Manchester, M1 5JW.
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