Three businesses in Lochaber are the latest to benefit from Lochaber Enterprise's training schemes. Newco Engineering, Jason Latto Home Furnishings and BSW Timber have benefited from advice and assistance from the Local Enterprise Company (LEC).

One of Lochaber Enterprise's key priorities as a development agency is to ensure that local people have the opportunity to keep their skills up to date. Training can play a vital part in helping both businesses and individual employees to remain competitive. The importance of training and learning new skills can sometimes be under estimated but it is absolutely vital.

Workforce development assistance is available to existing and new businesses to implement training programmes which will make improvements to the performance of companies and their employees. Support can take the form of practical advice and guidance across a range of skills development issues and often financial assistance to undertake the necessary training can be available.

BSW Timber situated at Annat Point in Corpach has continued to develop employee skills with support from Lochaber Enterprise. The latest training undertaken by four employees was hydraulic training.

Andy King from BSW Timber said: "We can see the benefits of training our staff to a high standard because it keeps our company at the forefront of what we do and gives us an edge over our competitors. Lochaber Enterprise has been very helpful is advising on the best training available as well as supporting us to put our staff through the necessary courses."

Jason Latto sells carpets and home furnishings throughout the Lochaber area. Jason and three other members of staff have been given assistance to do fork lift training, which makes unloading and moving stock easier and safer. Two further members of the team were given Sage training, allowing the firm to keep their full accounting package in-house, making savings on accountant's fees.

Jason said: "This training has helped to cut our costs in the long run, increasing our ability to employ more people in the future.  Our workers have been trained to a high standard which benefits both the business and our customers."

Investors in People recognised Newco, who are committed to developing their staff and annually put together a training plan, also received assistance from the LEC to put their plans into action. Recent training involved crane/lifting operations, slinger/signaller training, powered access training, renewal of safety passports and training to use their new computer aided design software.

Ron Maclennan from Newco believes training is vital to keep them at the forefront of technology. He said: "The training we carry out means our workforce is more skilled, giving us the opportunity to expand or diversify in the future."

Tina Davenport, skills development and training manager with Lochaber Enterprise said: "We can advise on training matters, help companies to produce a training plan and find the right course or the right trainer to match their needs. Sometimes just finding the right sort of training can be a real problem but our team has access to all types of information on training and development."
 
From time to time the local enterprise company may also identify training needs which are common to a number of organisations, or to a specific sector. They then take on a co-ordinating role and arrange training for these organisations, ideally ensuring that this is delivered locally.

Anyone interested in more details should contact Lochaber Enterprise on 01397 704326 or fax: 01397 705309