19.01.06
West Pharmaceuticals host skills road show

Business Link's 'Pace Skills Road Show' arrived in St Austell on Thursday 12th January courtesy of West Pharmaceutical's car park on Holmbush Industrial Estate. The mobile advice unit will be parked there every second Thursday until 23rd March.

The road show means all local businesses and their employees have the opportunity to get a free 'skills health check'. It's all part of a of a two-month regional campaign to help employees and businesses develop talents, improve skills and grow by ensuring they have the right skills for the future needs of the business.

Experienced workforce development advisers will be working from the mobile advice unit to analyse employees' training needs and identify training and financial solutions. The road show is part of an initiative funded by the Learning and Skills Council and the advisers are from Business Link Devon & Cornwall and Connexions Cornwall and Devon Ltd's Nextstep programme.

West Pharmaceutical Services (Cornwall) Ltd is part of an American owned group employing 420 people at their manufacturing plants in St Austell and also in Bodmin. West Pharmaceuticals designs and manufactures complete and part systems for the onward delivery of drugs into the body.

To mark the road show's arrival, Perry Liddle quality assurance manager at West Pharmaceuticals was on hand to welcome the advice unit. Perry explains: "We are totally committed to supporting and developing the skills of our employees. In our industry there is no room for errors or mistakes so we rely on a highly skilled workforce to ensure we get it right each time."

Richard Scutt, Business Link workforce development adviser, commented: "We are actively encouraging local employers and employees to drop in at any time for information and advice on skills development. Ensuring your employees have the proper skills can help improve your profits whatever business you are in and there are valuable benefits for the individual."

The Pace Skills Advice Unit is off to Truro Business Park, Threemilestone on 25th January 2006 before returning to West Pharmaceuticals on Thursday 26th January.

For further information please contact Carolyn Daw on 01566 771863 or email: cdaw@marketing-pr.co.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Learning and Skills Council through the European Social Fund (ESF). The Programme has also invested in Business Link through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).

Anyone considering a new horticulture, food and land based industries project is advised to speak with Maria Ford, at Government Office South West on 01752 635015 before commencing development as there are now only limited funds available due to the successful uptake of funding by the agricultural sector in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Editor's notes:

Business Link
Business Link provides a free information and enquiry service via an information gateway on the web www.bldc.co.uk and via the telephone on 0845 600 9966 to all businesses and those considering starting a business. Additionally it provides impartial business advice and support through a network of partner organisations, which it co-ordinates, and a register of independent business practitioners. Business Link for Devon and Cornwall delivers the national Business Link service to the region under contract from the South West RDA. Business Link has received Objective One investment (European Regional Development Fund and EAGGF) to help companies improve performance and grow.

Learning and Skills Council (LSC)
The pace road show is part of an initiative funded by the Learning and Skills Council and the advisers are from Business Link Devon & Cornwall and Connexions Cornwall and Devon Ltd's Nextstep programme. The LSC exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. It is responsible for planning and funding high-quality vocational education and training for everyone. It has a single goal: to improve the skills of England's young people and adults to world-class standards. Its vision is that by 2010, young people and adults in England have the knowledge and skills matching the best in the world and are part of a truly competitive workforce. Established in 2001 the LSC works nationally, regionally and locally from a network of offices across the country.

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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