It is a tough time for businesses across the region in the current climate. The Skills for Growth programme can support you to build a talent pipeline, increase productivity and close skills gaps within your business.

Led by the Mayor of West Yorkshire and delivered by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the Skills for Growth programme can connect small and medium sized business owners with local schools, colleges and universities.

Available across West Yorkshire, Craven, Harrogate, Selby and York to businesses in all sectors; through Skills for Growth the West Yorkshire Combined Authority offers free, impartial, one to one support to help you and your business. Over 510 businesses have benefitted from the programme over the last twelve months, with over 1,000 referrals generated to access solutions from the wide range of skills and business support offers in the region.

How could your business benefit from engaging with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to address your skills needs?

This free programme helps businesses and young people in the region

1. To increase productivity and growth

By strengthening the connection between education and the specific needs of your business, you can take on a skilled workforce contributing to the expansion of your business.

2. To embrace diversity and inclusion

An opportunity to engage with young people from different backgrounds who may not have considered a job in your sector before.

The Skills for Growth programme can support you to build a talent pipeline, increase productivity and close skills gaps within your business.

3. To future-proof your workforce

Early engagement with young people can help increase awareness of your business and sector, helping you to attract future talent and develop a long-term talent pipeline.

4. To generate new business opportunities

Social responsibility and business engagement in local communities is viewed favourably by potential clients and can help you build stronger relationships and attract new suppliers, customers and clients.

5. To save money

Developing the young talent that you need to grow, rather than paying for expensive recruitment fees.

Through this programme the West Yorkshire Combined Authority is supporting SMEs to actively develop the young talent that they need to grow, education providers to prepare and upskill their students for specific career opportunities, and the local economy to help reduce skills gaps in key sectors.

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire said: “Skills for Growth is a fantastic programme to help both businesses and young people thrive in what has been a difficult period for employment.”

The free programme from West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership is part-funded by the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England.

To learn more about how your business could benefit from the programme, visit the-lep.com/SkillsforGrowth to arrange a call with your local Business Partnership Adviser.

Skills for Growth in West Yorkshire