Category: Skills and workforce

Upskill your staff and save on recruitment costs with Skills Bootcamps

Published 28 August 2024

Business news, Skills and workforce

Could your business be taking advantage of Skills Bootcamps – flexible training courses available to your workforce, with up to 90% of the costs covered by Government? 

Launched this summer, they provide support to help you train existing and recruit new members of staff – with skills that are focused on growing your business. 

They are delivered via Surrey County Council in a range of sectors crucial to the region’s future economy.

Get in touch today to find out how you could benefit.

Why Skills Bootcamps? 

For many businesses, particularly small or medium employers (SMEs), achieving the balance between upskilling staff and getting the job done can be difficult. 

Skills Bootcamps offer targeted and intensive training that is sector-specific.

They have been designed closely with industry ensuring content is relevant to your sector for growth, now and tomorrow.

They are also completed quickly, in just 12 to 16 weeks. 

Through supporting your talent via a Skills Bootcamps, you also demonstrate commitment to career progression, creating a loyal and skilled workforce. 

Gain support with staff recruitment and save on recruitment costs 

Recruiting the right people with the right qualifications is a challenge for many businesses. 

Did you know, in Surrey alone; 

  • In the health and social care sector, there are over 360 care worker vacancies  
  • In the construction sector, with a predicted demand for over 950,000 installations of retrofit measures, we will need to train around 166 retrofit professionals per year to the peak in 2037 

Skills Bootcamps have been specifically developed to address the skills gap in key sectors. 

Learners are trained online and many courses also include practical teaching and job-shadowing. This ensures they get a realistic understanding of the role before gaining employment.   

Plus, there is no cost to a business recruiting someone who has recently completed a Skills Bootcamp. 

What courses are available? 

Courses have been developed across nine growing industry sectors, aimed at supporting the success of your business and the wider economy. They are delivered through expert providers. 

Courses are available in: 

  • Health and Social Care  
  • Games Development 
  • Cyber 
  • Construction – Insulation, Retrofit & Heat pumps  
  • Sustainability & Carbon Management  
  • Advanced Engineering  
  • Green electrical – electric vehicles and solar panels 

Find our more on the Surrey County Council’s Skills Bootcamps website.

Who is eligible for a Skills Bootcamp? 

Any adult living in Surrey can sign up to a course. This is providing they have the right to work in the UK and they can commit to completing the course.  Adults can only sign up to one Skills Bootcamp a year.   

Skills Bootcamps are used by local businesses to upskill current employees at a discounted rate. Large employers will need to contribute 30% of the cost. Small or medium employers (SMEs) contribute 10%. 

A business may wish to send two or more members of staff on two identical or different Skills Bootcamps. But you cannot send one individual on more than one course in the same funding year. 

Are you a business wanting more information? Email skillsbootcamps@surreycc.gov.uk. 

Or contact our team of experts direct via our Contact Us form. 

Digital Skills Centre opens at Guildford College in boost to Surrey economy

Published 1 August 2024

Skills and workforce

A new Digital Skills Centre has opened at Guildford College as part of wider efforts to bolster digital and creative skills in Surrey.

National figures show there are currently 2,500 vacancies in data-related roles across the county.

Activate Learning – which runs Guildford College – is working with local employers and strategic bodies like Surrey County Council to address immediate and long-term skills shortages in the data, tech, and cyber sector.

The new cutting-edge Digital Skills Centre at Guildford College is key to those efforts. It has been developed with £800,000 funding from the Department for Education’s Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF)

Why is Guildford’s Digital Skills Centre needed?

Digital skills have become fundamental across nearly every industry in Surrey. Yet there is a notable shortfall in local talent.

Nationally, the UK faces a significant challenge, with an estimated 178,000 to 234,000 unfilled data-related roles.

With 2,500 unfilled vacancies in Surrey alone, local employers are struggling to find candidates with the required digital and tech expertise. This hinders productivity and stifles innovation in a growing sector which is key to Surrey’s future economy.

Leaders at Guildford College say the investment in a new Digital Skills Centre showcases its commitment to cultivating the future talent necessary for sustaining growth and innovation in the region.

Neil Shoulder, Group Director of Guildford College, pictured below (left) said: “We’re delighted to be launching the new Digital Skills Centre at Guildford College, which demonstrates our commitment to tackling the digital skills shortage in Surrey head-on.

“By offering targeted courses and training, we are ensuring that Surrey’s economy remains dynamic and competitive in the global market.

“This initiative not only addresses immediate needs in the digital sector but also supports long-term growth and innovation – working with and providing local businesses with the skilled workforce they desperately need.”

Available courses at the Digital Skills Centre

The Digital Skills Centre will provide comprehensive programmes for career changers, young learners, and current employees seeking to upskill.

Courses and qualifications are aimed at all ages. This includes T-Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs), plus apprenticeships in digital and tech subjects.

Courses will also meet the evolving demands of the industry, ensuring students have the necessary skills to excel in a competitive job market.

Among the first courses offered will be:

  • Practical AI in a Day: A four-hour course introducing AI technologies and the ‘prompt journey’ concept.
  • Applying AI in Your Business: An eight-hour course over two days that builds on this foundation with case studies and hands-on experience in using AI for data analytics and document production.

Visit the AI for Business page on the Activate Learning website to discover more.

Digital Skills Centre and local employers

Activate Learning says that Surrey businesses are key to the success of the Digital Skills Centre.

It is working with iChooseLocal to reach out to local employers to engage in the programme. This will ensure the curriculum remains agile and responsive to industry needs.

It will also maintain a pool of skilled professionals who can significantly contribute to the local economy.

Jon Adams, Chief Strategy Officer at Activate Learning, said: “Guildford College’s investment in a new Digital Skills Centre is a transformative step towards acknowledging and addressing the critical skills shortages in Surrey’s digital and tech sectors.

“By working with employers, we are ensuring that the talent needed for the local economy to grow and thrive is there and that Surrey remains at the forefront of technological advancement and competitiveness.

“This targeted use of LSIF funding will enable us to deliver bespoke training programmes that not only address the immediate skills shortages but also align with the future demands of the tech industry, ensuring sustainable economic growth and innovation in the region.”

Free workforce support for your Surrey business

Looking for further help to develop your workforce and grow your Surrey business?

Business Surrey offer free expert support businesses of all sizes across the county. Get in touch on the links below.

Picture of red brick building in the sunshine. To the fore is a group of young people with a large tree on the right.

Introducing Work Wise employment support programme for jobseekers

Published 29 July 2024

Advice and support, Business news, Skills and workforce

Businesses are invited to get involved in Work Wise, a free employment support programme aimed at jobseekers aged over 16 who may struggle to get into work due to health issues or disability.

It has been designed to empower and bolster the local workforce, by providing support to jobseekers and improving their employment opportunities, and by supporting businesses to increase their workforce diversity and fill vacancies.

The programme is being delivered by Surrey County Council in partnership with Surrey Choices, Richmond Fellowship, Get Set UK, Surrey Welfare Rights Unit and Citizens Advice. 

Employment support for individuals

Individuals who register on the scheme will be paired with a dedicated employment specialist. For scheme participants who are already employed, their dedicated specialist will support them to stay in work, and for jobseekers, the specialist will assist with their job search and applications, assisting with CV writing, interview preparation and benefits advice.

Work Wise support for businesses

Surrey County Council will work with suitable businesses and employers in the County to help deliver the Work Wise programme. The Council can support businesses by helping to identify suitable roles, matching jobseekers to skills gaps, and importantly, providing training and advice to develop inclusive employee support services which benefit both employee and employer.

Mark Nuti, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, and Public Health said:

“Making job opportunities accessible to everyone is very important to us. However, we know that people with disabilities or health challenges often face big challenges when trying to find work, so I’m delighted we are launching this initiative, providing vital employment support for those who need it most. Work Wise marks a significant step forward in improving job opportunities and breaking down barriers, empowering residents whilst helping to reduce unemployment rates, and fostering successful futures in our communities across Surrey so that no one is left behind.”

Businesses interested in taking part in the Work Wise scheme to help fill vacancies and get support to become a more inclusive employer can find out more here: www.surreycc.gov.uk/workwise  

Looking for free support and advice for your Surrey business?

Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service providing free and accessible support for all businesses in Surrey.

Find out more about what we do and how to access our many business support services by completing our Contact Us form.

Or you can browse our directory of business support in Surrey. The directory includes more than 120 local, regional and national schemes and initiatives providing support, guidance and help with funding.

A young man with Down's Syndrome is working in a cafe, handing a plate to a customer.

Students get early taste for cyber careers at special event

Published 15 July 2024

Innovation, Skills and workforce

Cyber-curious students from Ash Manor School have been inspired to consider future careers in the sector after taking part in a special one-day workshop.

The event was hosted by Surrey County Council in collaboration with the Surrey Cyber Security Cluster (SCSC) and SATRO Education Charity as part of the Inspire Surrey pilot program, and was held at the Hogs Back Hotel in Farnham.

The Digital Detectives Challenge

The ‘Digital Detective Challenge’ was developed to harness the imagination of the students and encourage them to consider a future career in this exciting and fast-growing industry.

At the end of the day, almost all of the year 8 students taking part (28 out of 31) said they would now consider taking up a career in cyber – a resounding success for the day.

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “Cyber security is a growing, highly innovative sector of huge importance to our regional economy. Events like this are fantastic to really capture the interest of enquiring young minds – the vital future leaders of this sector – and ensure cyber security’s continued growth and success in Surrey. I’m delighted the event was such a triumph for all participants.”

Surrey is a world-leader in cyber security, as home to a large and growing number of security firms and consultancy agencies including BAE Systems, CGI and F5.

Two of the UK’s five Gold Standard Cyber Security Universities (Royal Holloway and University of Surrey) are also based in the county, helping to drive innovation in the sector.

Surrey County Council is further nurturing the sector and supporting growth through its involvement in the Surrey Cyber Security Cluster.

Feedback from the day

Mr S Coomber, Head of Computer Science at Ash Manor School, said:“Events like this enable students to explore what it’s like to work in cyber security. By showcasing the breadth of opportunities available, we hope to empower students to make an informed decision about considering a career in the cyber sector.”

Jane Sheridan from SATRO Education Charity, said: “Today’s event was not just about solving puzzles; it was about igniting passion and curiosity for cyber careers among young minds. We wanted to provide students with a glimpse into the exciting world of cyber security while emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.” 

Hani Momeninia, Director of the SCSC, highlighted the significance of nurturing future talent in the cyber field. He said: “As the cyber landscape continues to evolve, there is a growing demand for skilled professionals capable of defending us against emerging threats. Initiatives like this play a crucial role in inspiring and nurturing the next generation of cyber leaders. It’s been great to work with the Surrey Cyber Security Cluster and SATRO Education Charity to design and host an engaging event for our budding cyber professionals.”

Inspiring careers in cyber

The event was one of a number of initiatives intended to inspire a range of audiences to consider a career in cyber by the Council’s Economy & Growth Team, in collaboration with the Surrey Cyber Security Cluster. Other events included a workshop for mums returning to work and a cyber careers fair at Brooklands Museum for secondary school students across the county.

Business Surrey, as the Council’s new business initiative, is committed to supporting sectors, such as cyber security, with support to grow. If you are looking for support and advice with workforce needs please contact our team of experts for free support.

The Surrey Careers Hub also works to connect employers with schools and colleges to support young people to take their next best step. Find out how you can get involved here.

team of students at the Digital Detectives challenge workshop - considering cyber careers

Major Surrey company build interest in construction careers at Nescot

Published 9 May 2024

Skills and workforce

Construction professionals of the future were provided a chance to learn more about careers in the industry in an interactive day at Surrey’s Nescot College.

Representatives from Ringway Infrastructure Services, Surrey’s leading highway maintenance contractor, led the session at the further education college in Epsom.

Students from a range of courses had the chance to find out more about the new Construction Skills for Highway Maintenance courses being delivered by the college with Ringway and supply chain partner Eurovia Surfacing.

The day was supported by the Surrey Careers Hub, a Surrey County Council service which connects employers to training providers to ensure young people can take their next best step.

Slavina Kalendzhieva, Head of Foundation Learning at Nescot said:

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Ringway and Eurovia to deliver these courses which create lots of opportunities for our students. The courses offer clear pathways from education to vocational, employment and apprenticeship opportunities and will help students develop skillsets for next steps after college.

“The opportunity to meet with industry professionals has also given our students an insight into the varied opportunities available in the highway sector.”

Carolyn Jay, Community and Place Manager at Ringway said:

“We are really excited to be working with Nescot. The accredited construction curriculum courses offer masterclasses by Ringway and Eurovia. Students will have the opportunity to interview for a job or apprenticeship with Ringway, Eurovia and supply chain partners following course completion.

“The college has been so excellent and responsive to us being on campus to demonstrate to students the wide range of work opportunities in the highways industry which needs young people. We want to showcase how accessible it is to work in this sector.”

Students had the opportunity to try out specialised equipment to lay a paving slab. Others used electric hand tools including a fully electric steel saw used for cutting slabs and tarmac. Some explored the vehicles used, including an Accident and Emergency vehicle, a Roller and a Low Loader used for transporting highway kit.

Bricklaying student Jack who enjoyed exploring the Roller vehicle said:

“It’s been a fantastic experience finding out what is involved with working on the roads and the various equipment used. It is great that these courses are being offered, they sound very interesting and I think they will enhance my learning.”

Highways Maintenance courses at Nescot

The one-year Level 1 and Entry Level Construction Skills for Highway Maintenance courses develop skills in construction, employability and digital with a focus on highway maintenance.

They are designed to provide a pathway to the Ringway Highways Maintenance/Groundworks Apprenticeship, or similar roles with Eurovia and other supply chain partner.

Certified by the Gateway examining body, the Building and Construction specification is delivered with input from Ringway and Eurovia staff. It includes live briefs, industry projects, masterclasses and enrichment activities.

Students will have the opportunity to interview for a job or apprenticeship with Ringway, Eurovia and supply chain partners following course completion.

Ringway manage and maintain the largest portfolio of highways service contracts in the UK. This covers over 43,000km of strategic and local highway network on behalf of National Highways, Transport for London, and local authorities.

Student in high vis jacket sits on a construction vehicle, with a tutor on the ground advising him how to use it.

2024 Surrey Festival of Skills

Published 26 March 2024

Events and awards, Skills and workforce

Businesses and training providers across Surrey can now sign up to showcase their opportunities at the 2024 Festival of Skills.

The first ever Surrey Festival of Skills took place in November 2023 and left hundreds of young people fired up about their futures.

More than 1,300 people from schools and colleges across Surrey attended the free one-day event, engaging with 80 exhibitors, including Samsung, British Airways, Pfizer, Haleon, and BAE Systems.  

The event was organised and funded by Surrey County Council, with support from the Association of Learning Providers Surrey (ALPS) and Surrey Event Professionals.

Planning for the 2024 event is now underway with the festival set to return in the autumn. Businesses, training providers and educational settings who wish to attend can register their interest via https://surreyfestivalofskills.co.uk/

Man trying helmet on at Surrey Festival of Skills

The Festival of Skills is open to young people 14 to 18 who are in education in Surrey. 

Those attending access inspirational talks and interactive displays, while also learning about potential career opportunities.

Sectors represented included the creative arts, construction, cyber security, health and social care, technology, engineering, public sector, and hospitality.

Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council, described the 2023 event as “a big success”.

In opening the 2023 event, Cllr Oliver said: “We have a vibrant, thriving, and diverse economy in Surrey, which generates roughly £50 billion a year for the UK.  

“With a skilled workforce, high business success rate and enviable location, there is huge potential to grow the economy of Surrey sustainably in years to come.

Young people at Surrey Festival of skills

“The single most important component to achieving that growth is the individual contributions of our workforce. It’s their talent, their ideas, their passion which makes organisations thrive and prosper.  

“That is why the Festival of Skills is so important. Because it provides opportunities for our local young people to experience, to connect, to be inspired about their future.”

Star attractions on the day included a prototype supercar worth more than £2 million created by Guildford-based Gordon Murray Automotive and a robotic dog, which construction firm Balfour Beatty utilised on the M25 improvements and other major schemes.  

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport & Economic Growth, said: “The first-ever Festival of Skills was a day to remember for all involved – providing young people with the chance to rub shoulders with major employers and be inspired about their futures.

“Providing opportunities for employers to connect with the county’s future workforce is integral to our wider Skills agenda and achieving our mission to ensure No One is Left Behind.”

Man presenting at Surrey Festival of Skills