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People and Skills

Attracting and nurturing your most important assets

The Higher Futures Skills Hub is our free and impartial skills service providing advice and practical support to your business .

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Knowledge

Setting up and Running a Payroll System
A brief guide to payroll systems
advice
Apprenticeships: A cost effective route to obtaining and retaining a skilled wor...
Potentially a fully funded path to hundreds of apprenticeship qualifications.
April 2019 is approaching - Have you used your levy funds?
Apprenticeship levy payers will see funds start to expire in April 2019, this article provides some tips on how employers can spend their levy pot and...
advice
SMEs & Apprenticeships: Recruiting a Balanced Approach
Navigating apprenticeships from an SME perspective in Swindon & Wiltshire.
advice
Has staff retention been a problem in January?
How to keep staff following the festive period.
advice
University Level Learning in Wiltshire – An Evolution
The latest insight into the evolving Higher Education landscape across Swindon and Wiltshire and what is available to you as a business and as an indi...

Resources

Be Involved

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Be Involved is a Swindon & Wiltshire initiative enabling employers to support the employability of our young people and the future workforce.

workwiltshire.co.uk/beinvolved
More info

Enterprise Adviser Network

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The Swindon and Wiltshire Enterprise Adviser Network helps create powerful, lasting connections between our local businesses, schools and colleges.

enterprise-adviser-network
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Women in Rural Enterprise

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WiRE Networks (Women in Rural Enterprise) provides the opportunity to share knowledge, ideas, expertise and generate business growth through referrals.

wireuk.org/networks
More info

Apprenticeship Information For Employers

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Information on Apprenticeships for Employers

Workwiltshire.co.uk/information-for-employers/apprenticeships/
More info

Skills Support for the Workforce

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Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) is a programme developed to upskill employees within SMEs in Swindon & Wiltshire.

serco.com
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Higher Futures Skills Hub

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Higher Futures is our free and impartial skills service providing advice and support as well as training and learning analysis for employees.

HigherFutures.co.uk
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Young Roots

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£10k-50k to help young people aged 11-25 to explore their heritage

Read more here
More info

UCAS - At the heart of connecting people to higher education

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UCAS is an independent charity providing information, advice, and admissions services to inspire and facilitate educational progression. UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry to higher education.

UCAS
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Documents

News
Research to better understand cyber security guida...
An offer from the Behavioural Insights Team on behalf of the Economy & Society Engagement Team at th...
Tim Burghes Published: 9/03/20
Bath Spa University introduces an MSc in Cyber Sec...
This new course launches in September 2020.
Tim Burghes Published: 26/02/20
Support in place for Honda staff and supply chain ...
A package of measures has been put in place to support workers affected by the closure of Swindon’s ...
Tim Burghes Published: 12/02/20
Wasdell Academy takes on intern students
Company to offer jobs to successful candidates
Tim Burghes Published: 30/10/19
New College and Swindon College to merge
Preparing for new Institute of Technology
Tim Burghes Published: 29/10/19
Local partners working behind the scenes to suppor...
Actions to help Honda-associated companies deliver a programme of welfare support for their Swindon ...
Tim Burghes Published: 29/10/19

Events

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Insights

Top Tips for Negotiation within a competitive and changing business world!
Negotiation tips for converting business and increasing sales.
Why effective communication is so hard, but so important right now (and some he...
For those of us who manage a business, responsible for people in work, this is a really complicated crisis, made harder by the need to use technology ...
Work Hacks – Microsoft Teams
Does anyone else find it really annoying when your colleagues clog up your inbox with replies saying a short ‘thanks’ or ‘okay cool’?
Manufacturing : The Future Workforce - reversing the decline to be fit for Indus...
Manufacturing delivers 10% GVA, 45% of exports, 1-in-5 inward investments, accounts for most R&D and employs 2.7 million people, but must revolutionis...
People Development: Engaging with your Employees to retain them during market ch...
To give employees purpose throughout their career journey, the engagement of an employee plays a vital role in retaining them.
So you think you’re a trusted advisor!
Many of us, especially consultants like to think we are a trusted advisor for our clients, but are we, really, and how would we know?
When is your ‘Power Hour’? Optimizing your day to be more productive
Do you struggle to get your brain ticking in the morning, or just find that you’re most productive after you’ve gulped down your first coffee of the d...
The best Christmas activities for businesses
Although it may seem an age away, Christmas is fast approaching, and we are certainly well into the festive planning season.
SWLEP's Higher Futures launches Digisheds to tackle the digital skills gap
Higher Futures are delighted to announce the launch of Digisheds in Swindon this summer. Employers and potential learners are now invited to get invol...
Putting self-development at the top of your to-do list
With the dawn of new technology, you would expect to have more time on your hands but in reality many people are reporting feeling "time-starved". How...
Blog – Degree Apprenticeships – A New Route
Over the last few days the press has been full of news on tuition fees and the associated repayment. Whilst the combined impact of freezing fees and a...
Blog – Building Bridges In Work Support
Following on from our first blog describing the support given to individuals to help them address the challenges that may have impacted on their readi...
Is that just a rumble or are the wheels coming off?
Being too busy to plan, turning a blind eye to communication problems or not having the support of your team are serious risks. Here are some proven...
Think your business is too small to hire an apprentice? Think again!
Bristol-based Dial A Geek is one of a growing number of small businesses in the UK expanding their team through apprenticeships.
Wiltshire College - Courses for Businesses
Wiltshire College offer a wide variety of courses for your staff from management to health and safety.
Wiltshire College Apprenticeships
Wiltshire College offer apprenticeship provision in more than 30 areas across Wiltshire and neighbouring counties.
Dyslexia and design - Article from The Design Council
Is Dyslexia a weakness or a strength? Designers discuss how they feel dyslexia enables them to think differently
Essential Business Skills
Successful business leaders care for their people, providing opportunities to grow and develop. Successful business leaders need to know those skill s...
Higher Futures now offer free, short, online courses with leading Universities t...
Future learn offer free online courses on hundreds of different subjects! Join other learners online from around the world and meet educators from top...
Blog – your opportunity to help develop the hidden workforce
Building Bridges ~ your opportunity to help develop the hidden workforce
Blog – employers how are you supporting the parents in your workforce?
A recently released article by People Management reveals that 34% of working parents feel that balancing work with family life takes a toll on their m...
Blog – Apprentice Stories
During recent weeks the Routes to Employment team at Wiltshire Council have been out and about meeting young people from businesses across the county ...
Why Businesses use Coaching and Mentoring
The uses of coaching and mentoring to support business owners

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