South West Regional Development Agency

Area Team: Wiltshire & Swindon

The aim of the Employer Skills Development Project is to widen and increase employer take-up of training in order to address skills gaps across Wiltshire and Swindon. It builds on the successful Employer Training Pilot, Free2learn, that encouraged 1,000 of Wiltshire & Swindon's businesses to offer their employees training at Basic Skills and Level 2. 
 
The South West RDA has invested £1.2 million into the project, offering subsidised training for courses identified by employers as important. With a focus on Skills for Life and Level 2 qualifications, the project has also provided an important progression route for employees to study at Levels 3 and 4.  
 
Specialist training advisers are available to employers who wish to make use of the subsidised courses and much of the programme's success can be attributed to this brokerage system which also aims to minimise administrative burdens for the employer.  
 
The programme was set up to help:

• 2,331 people develop their skills
• 1,500 businesses improve their performance
• 375 adults gain Skills for Life qualifications
• 800 adults gain first Level 2 qualifications

The project is now half way through its three-year life span and its outputs are excellent:

• 1,202 people have received help to develop their skills
• 603 businesses have received help to improve their performance
• 275 adult s have gained Skills for Life qualifications
• 605 adults have gained first Level 2 qualifications