Businesses are taking advantage of a range of online and virtual employee development and training courses available through Forth Valley College during the lockdown.
Firms can access these courses to train and develop staff who are working from home and also those employees who have been ‘furloughed’ during the Coronavirus epidemic – and upon successful completion full certification will be presented.
Eligible businesses can access the Flexible Workforce Development Fund via Forth Valley College to fund employee training. Created by the Scottish Government in 2017 the fund is open to applications from all organisations across the private, public and third sectors who pay the UK Government’s Apprenticeship Levy if they pay more than £3million in salaries a year.
Virtual training for the courses will be provided via video conferencing software and can be completed at any time to suit candidates as long as they have access to the internet and a tablet, laptop or PC.
Training courses vary between half day and full day in length and course subject areas include: Communication Skills, Digital Skills, Electrical Safety, Health & Safety, Management and Leadership, Mental Health Awareness, Personal Development and Team Effectiveness.
Miles Lagan, FVC’s Commercial Growth Manager, said: “The change to working practices has been rapid and challenging for all organisations worldwide however, the need for employee development and training is as critical as ever. In recognition of this Forth Valley College has developed a portfolio of training that can be delivered remotely to remove the face-to-face risks associated with Covid-19.
“We would urge our partners who have already made good use of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund to get in touch to see what we could offer their employees and also for any firm who has not access the funding to speak with us and find out how we can help them.”
The College also offers firms and their employees longer SVQ qualifications where candidates can undertake a work-based learning qualification even when working from home, using FVC’s flexible online e-portfolio programme One File. Candidates can work on their qualification along with a college assessor by completing question blocks, reflective accounts, video evidence and professional discussions via Microsoft Teams.
Miles added: “It does not matter where you work in Scotland, or the hours that you are currently working, you can work towards these qualifications right now. Each SVQ has slightly different requirements in relation to work-based evidence which will be discussed in detail prior to commencement.”
For more information, please click here.
Alternatively please e-mail businessdevelopment@forthvalley.ac.uk or call 01324 403271.