Our Services to Business unit is the commercial training arm of the College. It offers employers a huge range of courses which can be tailor-made to fit their requirements.

Courses can be full-time, part-time day or evening, delivered at College or on employers’ premises, classroom-based or work-based, studied online or by distance learning. Courses can be of any length, from short courses of a few hours’ duration to apprenticeships lasting two or three years, and at any level, from Level 1 right up to Higher Education level.

The unit can advise on the appropriate training for your staff and give information about available funding, such as the Train to Gain scheme which might enable you to access free courses.

We offer a huge number of short courses which can take from a few hours to several weeks to complete. These are delivered at College or, subject to demand, at the employer’s premises. They enable your staff to gain specific skills or knowledge in bite-sized chunks in relatively short periods of time.

A variety of courses are available for those who want complete flexibility as to when and where they study. Some courses are studied with the aid of workbooks and telephone/email guidance from a tutor. Others are studied online, again with the assistance of a tutor, and attendance at College is only required for induction and assessment sessions, thus involving the minimum disruption to your business.

These are qualifications delivered in the workplace, or in some cases in settings which replicate the working environment (like the College’s training kitchen and restaurant). NVQs are based on national occupational standards, which mean students gain the skills and knowledge needed for your business. Learning takes place in the workplace, and an Assessor visits to help students prepare a portfolio of evidence that they have achieved the required competencies.

Apprenticeships are the ideal way to ensure that you gain and retain skilled employees who have been trained in a way that suits your business and with the correct balance between theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

It has been shown that offering apprenticeships to both new entrants and existing employees can greatly increase a workforce’s levels of motivation and productivity. We offer apprenticeship programmes at levels 2 and 3, and they are now available to all age ranges, making them an excellent way to retain good staff by giving them the opportunity to develop their careers without leaving your employment.

If your business is in the field of accounting, marketing, logistics, purchasing, health and safety, business or management, we have courses which will help you to acquire professionally-qualified staff. Courses are offered at all levels, and delivery is flexible - part-time, full-time, daytime and evening options often being available.

If none of the courses in our extensive range exactly suit your requirements, speak to us about designing a customised programme which can be delivered at College or on your premises.

Turn to the Services to Business team for expert advice on the training needs of your business, the courses available, and the funding opportunities which may enable you to access free or subsidised training.