Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF)

• Whisky group in high spirits after completing management and leadership award
• Staff development top of the agenda for Fleming Homes
• Eildon Housing take advantage of tailored training opportunities to upskill staff
• SRA develop assessor skills thanks to College Partnership
• Local partnership boosts Floors Castle’s commitment to first-class visitor experience
• Pensions agency ‘excel’ in developing digital skills
• SBHA increases efficiency with Thermal Imaging training
• Stobo staff enhance customer experience through digital skills training
• BMG builds on customer relations and effective communication through the DEBI
• DEBI delivers state-of-the-art CAD CAM training to Hawick engineering company
• BMG benefits from first-class customer service training
• RJT Excavations undertake New Assured Drone Training
• Vital First Aid training delivered to Borders Distillery staff
• The Big Tank Guys’ build on global reputation thanks to DEBI training
• DEBI helps enable ‘better lives’ through Skills Accreditation programme
• Fleming Homes staff upskill thanks to DEBI and Graitec collaboration
• Brothers of Charity in safe hands thanks to IOSH training
• Energy efficiency approach at the forefront for SBHA
• DEBI ensures communications are ‘Streets Ahead’
• Customer safety at the forefront for Barony Hotel staff
• Borders College delivers training to world-renowned The Turing Trust
• College upskill local electricians in the installation of EV charging equipment

The key policy drivers for the FWDF are:

• Supporting the needs of Levy-paying employers and SMEs in Scotland.
• Supporting employer workforce development in line with the aims of the Scottish Government’s Labour Market Strategy, Disability Employment Action Plan, Race Equality Action Plan and the Gender Pay Gap Action Plan (particularly in the areas of upskilling/reskilling Scotland’s existing workforce) and the Fair Work Action Plan and consistent with the ambitions to raise productivity.
• Supporting employers to adapt and respond to the impacts of COVID-19 and help employees to upskill and reskill to support Scotland’s economic recovery.
• Supporting employers to identify and address skills needs resulting from the transition to net zero.
• Ensuring the Fund further strengthens college engagement with Levy-paying businesses and SMEs

Eligible employers in Scotland have the flexibility to choose the training they need.

Employers can:

• Use the FWDF to address priority skills gaps.
• Access training in high-quality learning environments.
• Engage and motivate existing employees by offering them high quality training to bring the greatest benefits to the organisation.

All training must be contractually committed by the end of July 2022, and training must have commenced prior to the end of August 2022 and been completed and fully delivered by 31 December 2022.

A Flexible Workforce Development fund application form is available from Borders College from today. Borders College, through its Department of Enterprise and Business Innovation, is looking forward to working with employers to meet their needs both locally and nationally, prioritise provision that meets known skills gaps in the economy and support the drive for inclusive, sustainable growth.

Contact should be made with Susan Rennie – Email srennie@borderscollege.ac.uk – or by calling 07971672475.