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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

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...
The Apprenticeship Levy Across Swindon & Wiltshire – Beyond Year One
Looking at the impact of the Apprenticeship Levy in Swindon & Wiltshire.

Resources

Engineering Employers Federation (EEF), The Manufacturers' Organisation

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A membership organisation the EEF is the representative voice of British manufacturing, both in the UK and Europe.

eef.org.uk
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Utilities

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Better Connected is a practical guide to utilities for home builders

Better Connected
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Visiting a School

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Information for employers visiting a School

Visiting-A-School
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CITB Training, development and business support

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CITB Training, apprentices, grants and funding

citb.co.uk
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Guide to apprenticeships in Wiltshire (Work Wiltshire)

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A comprehensive guide to all apprenticeship information relevant to Wiltshire including types of apprenticeships, industries, current vacancies and links to further information

Apprenticeships
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Work Experience

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Guidance for employers on work experience

Work-Experience
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Documents

News
Business West offering business advice in Swindon
One-to-one mentoring sessions with a business adviser
Tim Burghes Published: 24/06/19
All employers in England to have better access to ...
Businesses, who don’t pay the Apprenticeship Levy, will take full control over apprenticeships in th...
Tim Burghes Published: 20/05/19
£2.5m boost to Careers Hubs in 20 areas
New networks will mean thousands more young people can access high-quality careers education
Tim Burghes Published: 20/05/19
Community News
Catalent Pharma Solutions to invest £20m in Swindo...
Up to 100 new jobs expected to be created
Tim Burghes Published: 20/05/19
Community News
New Business West Initiative Manager
Tim Burghes Published: 13/05/19
Community News
Swindon falls from top place to find a job
Swindon is now third, behind Cambridge and Oxford
Tim Burghes Published: 26/04/19

Events

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Insights

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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