Employers urged to direct redundant staff to free training courses

The number of unemployed is expected to rise after the government’s furlough ends in October.

“Schemes such as the Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service have offered vocational training for redundant workers for over a decade, and now have huge potential to facilitate the retraining of laid-off workers for new types of work in growth sectors,” explained Paul Heard, Chief Executive Officer at SMMT Industry Forum.

“We are working with employers to identify specific courses by individual, that will lead the redundant to finding work as quickly as possible, often in different industries. Not only are employers best placed to recognise which qualifications match on-the-job experience, they have the industry, functional and local knowledge to highlight transferrable skills and to steer individuals towards growing sectors and certain types of vacancy.

“Most employers are keen to support their departing staff, but due to high employment rates over recent years, neither companies nor their workers have a particularly wide knowledge of the range of government-funded vocational and occupational training courses on offer. It’s time for industry to get involved by identifying skills gaps and advising on the best training,” continued Heard.

“Those recently made redundant should look to different industries that are recruiting and which share similar skill sets. An example is electric vehicles, a developing area that is heavily reliant on highly skilled employees. This could present opportunities for hundreds of available and talented aerospace engineers, who Industry Forum can help train in EV battery technology. Another example is quality management where we are already seeing courses such as APQP and PPAP for automotive and aerospace attracting delegates from defence and wind energy,” said Heard.

Industry Forum has identified a number of its government-approved courses that are particularly well-suited to those wishing to enter the manufacturing environment for the first time, or who have experience in a manufacturing setting but are looking to apply for roles in a new sector. Most are available both remotely and face-to-face at Industry Forum’s purpose-built training facility in Birmingham.

The courses cover general manufacturing essentials, leadership training for team leaders and manufacturing managers, automotive and aerospace quality management and industry standard certifications, and new technology courses e.g. in batteries and electric vehicles. For more information, click here.

The Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service training fund is among a list of support options accessed through local job centres. There are criteria to be met, such as whether the training is appropriate, has a clear job outcome focus and supports vacancies in the local market or potential vacancies in the occupational area. There is a different service if you’re in Scotland or Wales.

“We are working with employers to identify specific courses by individual that will lead the redundant to finding work as quickly as possible, often in different industries,” said Heard.

Industry Forum has a number of its government-approved courses for those wishing to enter the manufacturing environment for the first time, or who have experience in a manufacturing setting but are looking to apply for roles in a new sector. Most are available both remotely and face-to-face at Industry Forum’s purpose-built training facility in Birmingham.