Skills brokers highlight the value of training

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The recent introduction of a new team of skills brokers is one of the exciting new developments at the BCITO to ensure employers are equipped to make informed decisions about industry training.

The BCITO currently coordinates and manages apprenticeship training for more than 4000 employers, and understands the challenges to training.
Training has traditionally been seen as taking on a young apprentice. However, upskilling those already employed in the industry is equally important, to enable businesses and the industry to reach a sustainable level of qualified tradespeople.

Upskilling existing employees improves staff retention, and ensures businesses will be able to meet demand when the industry picks up.
With the increasing importance of staff productivity and retention in the current economic climate, now is the ideal time to invest in training.
Industry training today is more flexible than the old apprenticeship system, and most transactions take place onsite with a BCITO training advisor.

The team of skills brokers are able to assist employers who haven’t previously worked with the BCITO.
They are available to talk to companies about training existing staff or taking on new apprentices, and the steps they need to take.

The skills brokers will also be spending time in schools liaising with Gateway coordinators and other technology staff, and will be available to answer any other questions about industry training.

BCITO skills broker manager Graham Flanagan says there are many benefits of training, including:
• having a good mix of skills on your team from junior to more experienced senior levels,
• securing the future of your business with well trained people coming through,

• encouraging your staff to become qualified is a great incentive and improves your staff retention rate, a significant cost saving,
• an increase in productivity. Research has shown that even while training is taking place, overall productivity is greater,

• workplace training that can also improve the “bottom line” of your business by decreasing wasted time and materials, workplace accidents, recruitment costs and absenteeism, and
• securing the future of the industry.

“The BCITO welcomes the chance to work closely with businesses to help meet their training needs in this volatile market,” Mr Flanagan says.
If you’re not currently involved in training with the BCITO, but would like to find out more about how apprenticeships can benefit your business, phone 0800 4BCITO.

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