ON COURSE FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS

Businesses throughout Caithness and Sutherland are set to benefit from a range of short courses on offer from Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE).

The extensive variety of options in CASE's Business Skills Programme will provide businesses, both large and small, with the opportunity to enhance their skills in various business activities, from managing staff and managing projects to improving sales, customer service, marketing and promotion.

According to Anne Sutherland, head of skills development with CASE, "Many of the courses we are providing are as a direct result of feedback received from respondents to our quarterly business survey. This information has proved invaluable in terms of building up a picture of the skills business require."

"There is a special emphasis this year on providing a range of courses relevant to the retail sector, including looking at how improving customer service can benefit the bottom line and how to promote a retail business cost-effectively. One course which should prove particularly popular, given the build up to the Christmas season, is aimed at maximising merchandise display areas."

"We have also built in a wide range of course topics to support people who either have started, or are thinking about starting, their own businesses. These include 'Introduction to Business' and 'Introduction to Book-keeping'."

"The programme is heavily subsidised by CASE, to try to ensure that cost is not a barrier to accessing the skills required. Similarly, the geographical spread of the programme is throughout Caithness and Sutherland, though networking with folk from all parts of the area can be a useful aspect of attending the courses."

The extensive range of options in the Business Skills Programme is outlined in a booklet which was launched at an event in Dale House. Businesses which attended the launch were given a presentation by Robbie Campbell of JGC Technical & Engineering Services, on the consortium approach taken with Subsea 7, D Gow & Son and CASE, towards training their engineering apprentices. The success of this initiative resulted in them winning a UK National Training Award.

In addition to getting a chance to meet some of the training providers who will be delivering the programme, businesses were given a demonstration of the leading-edge online learning programmes now available from North Highland College.

For more detailed information on the courses (dates, venues, content, etc.) please visit the Events Calender on this website, and search under 'business' events in 'Caithness and Sutherland'.

All bookings for the courses are being co-ordinated by Development Partners on behalf of CASE - call 01463 223993 or email case@developmentpartners.co.uk

If you would like a copy of the booklet, please call CASE on 01847 896115 or 01408 633872 or call in at their offices in Thurso or Golspie.