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A warm welcome to this special Skills and Employment Support bulletin.
In this edition we would like to introduce you to the range of fully funded opportunities available for your business and staff to upskill or reskill, which is ideal both for employees on furlough and those continuing to work.
With the furlough scheme ending soon, now is the time to prepare to welcome staff back, and if you need to make redundancies we offer useful information to support you.
Alternatively, if you are struggling to hire staff, we provide contact details to promote in your local job centre plus and top tips to recruit a Kickstart placement.
With the furlough scheme ending on 30th September, East Devon employers will need to start planning for a return to the workplace for any staff on furlough. Now is the key time to get in touch with employees and talk through any concerns they have about returning to work. Do they want to work full time, part time, flexible working or remote working? Are they worried about returning to the workplace?
ACAS have devised a useful guide to help Planning to return to the workplace
Making employees redundant
Making someone redundant is one of the hardest things you'll ever have to do – and you need to get it absolutely right. Whilst the rules around redundancy are complex and depend on the size of the business and number of employees being made redundant, there is lots of useful information available to support you to carry out redundancy procedures correctly.
The Government has advice about the procedures to follow www.gov.uk/staff-redundant
Acas provide free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice when managing redundancies. https://www.acas.org.uk/manage-staff-redundancies
Better skilled staff make a better business!
 SMART SKILLS helps East Devon businesses to identify skills gaps in their workforce and provides the skills training they need to become more resilient. Funded by the European Social Fund, SMART SKILLS provides no-cost training solutions to upskill your staff and advance your business.
The range of skills support includes all levels from introductory through to full higher-level qualifications in area’s such as Leadership & Management, Digital Technologies, Food Manufacturing, Green Energy, Composites, Digital Marketing, Practical Work-Related Skills, plus more! www.smart-skills-hub.co.uk
 Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) helps support small & medium-sized businesses to upskill their employees with training courses & qualifications to grow their business. Advisors work with you to develop a bespoke training programme relevant to your needs often at no cost to your business (funded by the European Social Fund).
They can support you with qualifications in: IT, Leadership and Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Construction, Health and Social care, Customer Service, Business Administration, and many more.
Skills Support for the Workforce (serco-ese.com)
SSW can also support these sectors above with challenges such as training new recruits, furloughed staff and staff retention.
For specific information about the funded support available for each sector get in touch with Kirsty Mottram, Partnership Coordinator today: skillssupport@serco.com
The Help to Grow programme aims to take your businesses to the next level and is designed to help you learn new skills, reach customers and boost profits. The programme offers two distinct packages delivered through online learning platforms, 1:1 sessions with mentors and a peer network.
- Management - improving business performance and growth potential.
- Digital - online advice and money off software to save time and reduce costs.
Apply to the Help to Grow scheme.
Creating a skilled workforce fit for the future
 The government is encouraging businesses to build their own pipeline of talent and is currently providing a range of financial incentives to employers that offer appenticeships and work experience, or invest in upskilling their existing workforce. Find out more details by clicking on the links below.
Apprenticeships
Industry placements: T Levels
Sector-based work academy programme (SWAP)
Traineeships
Free qualifications for adults
Skills Bootcamps
Devon and Cornwall Training Provider Network - Accessing the right training can prove extremely beneficial to a business, but being able to identify the training you need, knowing where to access it and how to fund it can be a minefield. The DCTPN can support you in overcoming some of these barriers, and signpost you to training providers who offer quality training and skills. Devon and Cornwall Training Provider Network
Employing new staff
Many local businesses are having recruitment difficulties. It has been reported that job seekers are looking for a better work life balance, the ability to work remotely part of the week and benefits offered by the company when deciding on a suitable position. This is not all always possible, but do look for ways to make your business appealing to a candidate.
If you would like to advertise your vacancies for free with your local job centre they can put them up on their jobs boards, send the details to the job coaches and to local job clubs.
Exeter DWP (for Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, and Cranbrook area jobs)
Contact: Caron Sharmon on 01392 474886
Honiton DWP (for jobs in all other East Devon towns including Cranbrook)
Contact: Dave Clark on 01404 403214 or dave.clark2@dwp.co.uk (Weds, Thurs and Fri)
Find a Job - Jobs can also be placed on the national DWP database free of charge via Advertise a job - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
 Kickstart is a great opportunity for businesses across the region to increase their capacity whilst offering a young person vital work experience and an opportunity to develop workplace skills. The scheme is only available till the end of December so we asked local Kickstart gateway advisors for their 6 top tips to help you to recruit a Kickstart placement.
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