17.05.07
Microsoft IT Academy

Cornwall College has been helping the local workforce with IT skills to improve the local economy. Many people in Cornwall work for small businesses and find it hard to attend training sessions during work time, so the College decided to offer IT courses outside business hours through the Microsoft IT Academy Program. As a result, several employees have gained new skills and professional credentials that employers can use to increase business.

Education Needs
Small businesses are the economic lifeblood of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Since the decline of the mining, fishing, and agriculture industries, the United Kingdom's westernmost county has been deprived of traditional employment opportunities.

The 'workforce development' strand of Objective One places skills training at the heart of economic regeneration, particularly in IT literacy and technical support. Jane Lewis-Williams, Academies Manager, Cornwall College, said: "There is an e-skills shortage nationwide, particularly here in Cornwall. This is a large rural county. We have to ensure companies have local access to IT support and we need offer suitable training to small businesses."

Specialist training helps address the skills gap, but offering courses to small businesses can be particularly challenging. Of the 55,000 businesses in the region, 96 per cent are 'micro-businesses' that employ fewer than 10 people.

CF Systems is a micro-business in Redruth, Cornwall, which provides IT support to local companies. Graham Bray, Director of CF Systems, says: "Small firms such as ours can find it very hard to send employees on training courses because time is scarce and any time out from work costs the business money.

"I need to have our three qualified engineers, including myself, productively employed for 30 hours of each week to ensure the company makes enough money to keep going. If I take an engineer out of the loop for five days to attend a training course, the company loses a week's earnings from that engineer, and has to pay for the course."

The College wanted to support employers such as Graham Bray by offering accessible IT training and develop a local skills base of qualified IT support workers.

Solution
Cornwall College has taken advantage of several initiatives to deliver skills training and support its local business community. It was one of the first institutions in the country to sign up to the Microsoft IT Academy Program. Member institutions can access training, Microsoft software licences, and discounts on courseware and certification exams. Students enjoy early access to the latest technologies and hands-on experience, leading to industry-recognised certification.

The College offers the local community both Microsoft Office Specialist and Microsoft Professional training and certification pathways. Jane Lewis-Williams says: "I come from a business background and understand the needs of small companies and micro-businesses. We offer IT training tailored to the exact needs of local businesses by offering several ways to attend and can adapt courses to suit requirements if necessary."

For many companies, the most popular courses are out of office hours. Courses are also offered in intensive blocks of two, three, or five days.

Employers can also access funding to invest in their employees. John Latham, Principal of Cornwall College said: "We are a designated College of Vocational Excellence (CoVE), which means we have a remit to identify and develop funded projects for the benefit of local employers. A CoVE is also a badge of excellence. If you come to us for your training, you know you've come to the right place."

There is funding available for some businesses to train their employees, for example, ESF 'Workforce Development' investment can be used to fund Microsoft Office Specialist pathway courses. Companies can also get grants from the Learning and Skills Council to study Microsoft Certified Professional units, available under the Microsoft Professional training and certification pathway.

Benefits
Small companies and micro-businesses can easily access the Microsoft IT Academy opportunities offered by Cornwall College. Its demand led approach to training has been a great success in the business community. Already, scores of companies have boosted employee skill levels and improved business prospects.

Supporting Local Businesses
The College's Microsoft IT Academy Program helped 80 small businesses in 2006 and has trained around 920 people since October 2003. Graham Bray says: "I find the college extremely flexible —far more so than other training providers I have dealt with. Jane and her colleagues are prepared to go the extra mile."

Improving Skills and Prospects
Employees and owners of small businesses really do benefit from skills development opportunities, Graham Bray says: "When I started working in the IT sector, I did not value training, and I certainly didn't understand the value of professional certification. The Microsoft Certified Professional Program has been a great way for us to develop our individual skills and expand the business."

Offering New Business Opportunities
Industry-recognised credentials help small firms gain new customers and open up fresh opportunities. Graham Bray says: "You only get one chance to prove yourself as an effective IT supplier, and Microsoft certification helps us demonstrate to customers that we are capable of doing the job."

Graham Bray added: "Companies must meet minimum eligibility requirements before they can apply. For example, at least one engineer must obtain seven Microsoft Certified Professional passes. Due to the Microsoft IT Academy Program, we are already well on the way to meeting these criteria and expanding our business in the future."

For more information on these IT courses contact Jane Lewis-Williams at Cornwall College on 01209 611611.

For further information please contact Ruth Sparkes, PR & Communications Manager on 01726 226463/07760 490980 or email ruth.sparkes@cornwall.ac.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). 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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