search
Menu menu

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 .

Discover more

Knowledge

tool
Providers currently offering free training
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.

Resources

Be Involved

open_in_new

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

open_in_new

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

enterprise-adviser-network
More info

Women in Rural Enterprise

open_in_new

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

open_in_new

Information on Apprenticeships for Employers

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

Skills Support for the Workforce

open_in_new

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

serco.com
More info

Higher Futures Skills Hub

open_in_new

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
More info

Young Roots

open_in_new

£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

open_in_new

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
More info

Documents

News
Flagship business support programme launches in Sw...
£2.4m business support programme launches
Tim Burghes Published: 6/07/20
guide
How to Futureproof Your Business by Investing in P...
We at the Growth Hub have put together a guide to help you make the most of the training and skills ...
Joseph Palmer Published: 1/07/20
Webinar Series | Smarter with IoT
These insightful weekly webinars begin on Thursday 25 June at 2pm and are now open for registration.
Joseph Palmer Published: 22/06/20
Community News
Melksham businessman saves lives at night
Melksham businessman is being thanked for his vital work during the coronavirus pandemic.
Joseph Palmer Published: 16/06/20
Wadworth supporting tenants during crisis
Wadworth relaxes Rents and charges ended until end of lockdown.
Joseph Palmer Published: 1/06/20
Dedicated app for social care workers launched
A new dedicated app for the adult social care workforce in England has been launched to support staf...
Joseph Palmer Published: 7/05/20

Events

There are no items to display, feel free to explore the rest of our website.

Insights

I’M A BUSINESS MILLENNIAL – ARE YOU GIVING ME THE CORRECT TRAINING IN YOUR BUSIN...
In this fifth ‘Millennial Buying’ article series – have you asked this question to your leaders? • What millennials want from their employers?
I'm a Business Millennial - Is your company's marketing attractive to me?...
In this fourth ‘Millennial Buying’ article series, following requests from the readers - the below significant subject will be explored: • Busine...
I’M A BUSINESS MILLENNIAL - WE RESEARCH YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE COMMITTING TO...
In this third ‘Millennial Buying’ article series, the below important topic will be investigated: • The importance of ethics and brand to a Millenn...
The 6 things your teams are telling us
What does good communication look like during Coronavirus? What more do you need to do to take care of your home workers?
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

Business Support Helpline

Get business advice over the phone

Questions or queries?

Send our business advisers an Email