Bennetts reaps the benefits

One of Colchester’s major electrical stores has joined the growing band of success stories from the radical multi million pound training initiative for Essex business, Profit from Learning.

Bennetts Electrical megastore is one of more than 1,000 businesses and 4,000 individual learners to have recognised the significant benefits of the scheme, reputed to be the most successful training initiative of its kind in the country. 

Explaining how Profit from Learning has helped him and his team, Assistant store manager, Glen Cass said: “Personal service is without doubt the key to success for a small independent retailer like us in today’s competitive marketplace. We pride ourselves on our outstanding customer care and the quality of our aftercare service and we are proud that our sales teams are well qualified and well supported by the company. Profit from Learning fits in very much our company’s own style as we want our staff to develop and to grow with the company and we are already seeing a difference.”

A number of Glenn’s team are studying for NVQ Level 2 in customer care and warehousing with the help of training provider, Protocol Skills. Glenn added: “I doubt we would have had the resources to go ahead with the training without Profit from Learning – but we are very glad we have done so now.”

For cashier, Alex Green, studying for an NVQ Level 2 in customer care without having to leave the building has been very useful: “Since I began my NVQ work with Profit from Learning I have become more confident in the day-to-day work that I do. It has given me a real taste for learning and I now hope to go on and study more.”

As it celebrates signing up 1,000 businesses to the scheme in less than a year, the Profit from Learning team hopes the vote of confidence from employers and workers will encourage more companies to take up what’s on offer. David Sellings, Profit from Learning Project Manager, said: “Bennetts is a superb example of how Profit from Learning is making a difference. This is not just another training initiative. It is a scheme that is bringing tangible differences to companies and individuals in Essex.”

Owen’s are on top of the world

International freight consolidator Shell Copland-Mander spans the world from his company’s West Horndon headquarters, but he admits the world is a far better place thanks to the radical training scheme for Essex business – Profit from Learning (PFL).

Shell and his team at Owen’s Global Logistics are among the growing band of Profit from Learning success stories. The scheme is celebrating getting 1,000 businesses and some 4,000 individual learners on board in less than a year, many of whom now appreciate why the scheme is reputed to be the best of its kind in the country.

Handling cargoes bound for South Africa, the Far East, New Zealand and Australia is all in a day’s work for Shell who founded the company, but the complexities of shipping anything from bottled salad dressings to furniture and chemicals many thousands of miles by sea to an impatiently waiting customer means he needs a team who are well trained, competent and confident.

And that’s where Profit from Learning came in, as he explains: “Our key issue is profitability in a very competitive market. To be competitive you must have the best people around you – and that is what I wanted and what my team has achieved.

“Profit from Learning is the ideal answer for a company like ours as the trainers from Thurrock and Basildon College come in and work with the staff as they get on with their own jobs. The training is focused and there is no time spent travelling away from the office.

“I had visions of someone coming in with a blackboard – I had no idea training had changed so much,” says Shell who left school at 16 and is now considering a PFL course for himself.  I hadn’t realised that training could be that flexible and relevant to the job.  My view of training has changed completely.  Employers should realise there is no catch and it is a win-win situation for everyone. I am doing something for my team to show them how much I appreciate them and they are benefiting by acquiring new qualifications which will stay with them for life. I have found it has already made a great difference to my team’s confidence and ability to work on their own initiative.“

Benefiting from Shell’s commitment to Profit from Learning are Paul Merrin, consolidation manager, Donna Roberts, input operator, Nina Copland-Mander and Kelly Ashdown in customer service and manifesting department manager Joanne Beaumont. Many of Shell’s team have completed NVQ Level 2 in Customer Care and some are set to move up to the next level.

“The training makes you realise how much you actually do. It has given me confidence and reassurance that I am doing the job to the best of my ability,” says 24-year-old Joanne Beaumont who has worked for Owen’s Global Logistics for four years. “We all feel even more loyalty to the boss and it’s great to have someone running the company who feels you are worth investing in.”   

As it celebrates signing up 1,000 businesses to the scheme in less than a year, the Profit from Learning team hopes the vote of confidence from employers and workers will encourage more companies to take up what’s on offer. David Sellings, Profit from Learning Project Manager, said: “Owen’s Global Logistics is a superb example of how Profit from Learning is making a difference. This is not just another training initiative. It is a scheme that is bringing tangible differences to companies and individuals in Essex.”

Firm feels the force

A North Essex Finance Director who after 35 years working at a company decided he liked it so much he’d buy it, has joined the growing band of success stories from the radical multi million pound training initiative, Profit from Learning.

John Woodrow, from Brightlingsea-based electrical equipment manufacturer and distributor, Astralux Dynamics, says working with the scheme since taking over the business with fellow director Geoff Earl, has boosted team morale and improved business performance. Theirs is one of more than 1000 Essex businesses who’ve recognised the significant benefits of the scheme, reputed to be the most successful Employer Training Pilot in the country.

Explaining how Profit from Learning has helped his company, John said:  “Astralux is a major employer in Brightlingsea, but to continue to grow we realised we would have to address the skills shortage in this area which appears to be one of almost full employment.

“We are a small player with a £3 million annual turnover in what is a highly competitive field, so training our staff is a top priority if we are to continue to flourish.”

Astralux Dynamics currently has about 20 operators working towards NVQs at Level 2 in assembly operations. Many of the parts needed for the production are brought from the Far East, but the assembly in Brightlingsea requires precision, accuracy and understanding - all of which are teachable skills.

Fred Aldridge is one of those who is benefiting from the sessions delivered by training provider Metcom Training: “The training itself is made good fun and we really enjoy our time with the tutor. It was rather a challenge at first, as I had not done anything like this before – but now I feel I am able to do my job better and have a qualification which confirms this. Profit from Learning has made a huge difference to how I feel about the job and how I feel about myself.”

For John Woodrow and his team, the way the training is delivered is one of the main benefits of the scheme: “Profit from Learning is ideal for our staff as it does not involve them leaving the workplace and costs us nothing in terms of time and money. To have specialist trainers come in and work with staff whilst they continue to get on with their jobs is a great bonus. It motivates our staff and gives greater job satisfaction as people realise that what they actually do at work is very important.”

And John Woodrow has this message for other companies thinking about getting involved with Profit from Learning: “My advice to other businesses is to take full advantage of the free and flexible training on offer as it represents an excellent business opportunity for your company.”

As it celebrates signing up 1,000 businesses to the scheme in less than a year, the Profit from Learning team hopes the vote of confidence from employers and workers will encourage more companies to sign up and benefit from what’s on offer. David Sellings, Profit from Learning Project Manager, said: “Astralux is a superb example of how Profit from Learning is making a difference. This is not just another training initiative. It is a scheme that is bringing tangible differences to companies and individuals in Essex.”

Iain oils business success

The opportunity to study for a formal NVQ in car mechanics is helping to rev up the business of a Harlow man who swapped his army career for a life on Civvy Street but found he didn’t have the formal qualifications he needed to run his new garage.

Iain Hall left the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers three years ago and after working for both Harlow Council and his family’s electronics business, decided to buy Burnt Mill Garage. His natural ability at fixing all things mechanical, from Challenger Tanks to motorbikes, rapidly led to business success, but as the garage expanded and turnover increased, Ian decided that in order to step the firm up another gear he would need to gain a recognised qualification.

 “I’ve always had a special skill for fixing anything mechanical,” he explained, “but on leaving the Army I found my qualifications were not accepted in Civvy Street. I discovered that even though I am an authorised examiner for the whole garage workshop, I was not even supposed to formally test a car for an MOT – not because I didn’t have the skills, but because of a lack of formal qualifications.”

Thanks to the radical multi million pound training initiative, Profit from Learning, which offers free and flexible training to businesses in Essex, the situation is set to change and now Ian is studying for an NVQ Level 2 in car mechanics with the help of Harlow College and has every intention of continuing to Level 3.

“Profit from Learning is a brilliant opportunity for time-served people like myself to get formal qualifications,” says Ian. “The opportunity is there and it would be a waste not to use it. There is no cost and at the end I will have the proof that I am properly qualified to do what I have spent years doing! I can’t wait to have the certificate framed and on the wall in the reception of my garage. Then my customers will know their work is being carried out by someone whom they have always known is really competent – and now I can prove it!”

Iain is one of more than 1,000 Essex businesses and 4,000 learners who have joined the growing chorus of support for the scheme, which is reputed to be the most successful Employer Training Pilot in the country.

As it celebrates signing up 1,000 businesses to the scheme in less than a year, the Profit from Learning team hopes the vote of confidence from employers and workers like Ian Hall will encourage more companies to get involved and benefit from what’s on offer.