18th May 2012
Free training for businesses thanks to Catalyst
18th Jan 2006
Bedford College has secured £1 Million of European Social Funding which will be use to finance training for businesses in the county over the next year.
Free and subsidised courses for more than 1,000 employees are now available to SMEs under the Options scheme. It is aimed at all workers with skills below Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) and can include IT, NVQs, Skills for Life and Personal Development.
“This is a great opportunity for wealth-creating businesses in the county to get something back,” said Julie Jeffery, Senior Business Manager with Catalyst, the work-based training division of Bedford College, “We can tailor-make training courses and take them into the office, factory or warehouse to help employers benefit.”
Catalyst has been successful in bringing millions of pounds into the county. When it was launched in May 2002 it won a bid for £1.2 Million which benefited businesses in Bedfordshire - and other bids have been successful since then and have helped employees update skills in the manufacturing, distribution and care industry sectors.
The latest funding has been secured with the Learning and Skills Council Bedfordshire and Luton and courses will be run through Catalyst and Bedford College and others such as Barnfield, Dunstable, Chamber Technologies Ltd and Protech Training Services Ltd.
Businesses interested in details about Options can phone one central number: (01234) 834343 or email maprile@bedford.ac.uk
