19.04.07
Awareness of business training high in Cornwall, survey reveals

The Cornwall Federation of Small Businesses has unveiled the results of a new survey into how many businesses in the region take advantage of training.

Cornwall is unique in the UK with its business profile being dominated by businesses with less than five people. The Cornwall Skills and Training Survey highlighted the fact that, with the support of Objective One investment, this region is meeting the challenge is to reach these smaller, often micro, businesses.

The survey was carried out between 8th June and 31st September 2006 by Bodmin based PFA Research Ltd. The results, from the 343 small businesses that participated, were presented at an FSB Skills and Business Support event at the Combined Universities in Cornwall Tremough campus earlier this week (Tuesday April 17th).

The results demonstrated that while there was high awareness of training opportunities, cost and lack of time was a deterrent to many. However in Cornwall there is a 'reasonably high' uptake of training (51% of businesses questioned) and of those who are trained, the courses meet the expectations of 93%.

Objective One has supported a variety of training organisations and institutions and this has helped to raise awareness in Cornwall. These include Business Link and Cornwall College, which came first and second in the survey respectively as the institutions most businesses were aware offered training.

Barbara Ellenbroek, Chair of the Cornwall Federation of Small Businesses, said: "The business world is changing rapidly and we all, at every level, need our skills improving or added to. In Cornwall there are at present many opportunities for free, or subsidised training support, which can lead to increased productivity and profits. Business representatives are also working with training providers so that the courses are tailored to suit the many small businesses in this region."

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership, said: "The Programme has invested a substantial amount in training as this is an important tool to make businesses more successful. The more knowledge and skills people have the more they can contribute to add value to businesses and products.

"Objective One has not only been investing in business training but also in graduates and in teaching basic skills to support people into work to begin with. And Objective One projects have found ways of ensuring the training is flexible and meets business needs.

"This has been done via projects such as STAKES, which targets four of Cornwall's key industries; Business Link; Unlocking Cornish Potential, which offers on the job support and training to graduates; Let's Do IT, which offers IT training, and the more recent SMART Women Project, which is supporting women to aim higher in business."

The survey also revealed that the institution most businesses used to access training was Cornwall College (30% access). Cornwall College is a partner in the Objective One flagship project Combined Universities in Cornwall and has received Objective One investment for several training initiatives.

For instance the Unlocking Cornish Potential project received Objective One European Social Fund investment under the Combined Universities in Cornwall. Run by Cornwall College it places graduates with businesses and offers support and training from expert mentors for up to one year.

Simon Murley is Managing Director of Microcomms and Microcomms Marine. The companies specialise in 'Total Network Solutions' and top quality AV installations (eg a luxury home with a centrally controlled video and audio system). Mr Murley has so far employed two Unlocking Cornish Potential graduates, for product development and marketing.

He said: "Unlocking Cornish Potential has allowed us to recruit well qualified, focused individuals who have excelled in various areas of my business and supported a number of specific tasks and roles in an extremely competent manner. I will continue to use the services of UCP as they provide high quality, employable candidates."

For further information please contact Clare Morgan, Media Relations Manager for the Objective One Partnership on 01872 223439 or 07973 813647 or email cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) project, both Phase 1 and Phase 2, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF), in Business Link through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), and in STAKES (Skills Training Across Key Emerging Sectors), Unlocking Cornish Potential, Let's Do IT and SMART Women projects through the European Social Fund (ESF). Cornwall College is a partner of the CUC.

Editor's notes:

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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