Skills Academy announces its 2009 projects

The Academy, marking its second anniversary, also announced details of projects for 2009 including a toolkit – delivered through six, three-hour workshops – designed to support manufacturing companies through the recession., the toolkit builds into an action plan that supports businesses through the economic downturn, helping them to survive and then thrive. Other projects for the year include a series of events where SMEs can benefit from the experience of other manufacturers who will tell how they achieved significant business improvements through investing in skills; a partnership with Warwick Manufacturing Group to pool skills development knowledge; and establishing ‘Learning Engineers’ – individuals working in the skills environment who are trained to apply the tools of the Skills Academy’s systems-based approach to skills training known as the Learning Engine, to achieve the optimum results. NSAM managing director Bob Gibbon (pictured) said: “Two years ago, we were tasked with developing a centre for skills innovation that successfully utilises new thinking and methodologies to deliver the training that business wants. That is exactly what we have produced through the Learning Engine – a systems-based approach to skills training so far has demonstrated a six-fold return on investment. Adopting this requires a paradigm shift in the way training is approached. Currently over 80% of training budgets are invested in the delivery of the courses themselves without thinking about the real needs of the employee or the impact on the business of a better skilled worker. By using the Learning Engine employers can see a measurable return on any investment in training. So even in recessionary times, it’s not a case of can we afford to train but more importantly can we afford not to train.”