Train the trainer

Proskills, the Sector Skills Council for the process and manufacturing sector, has launched its Train the Trainer scheme in Northern Ireland, enabling in-house trainers in the process and manufacturing sector to be fully recognised and accredited.
 
Using funding from the Department for Employment & Learning (DEL), The Train The Trainer project was developed by Proskills in response to employer needs. Traditionally, employers either sought trainers outside of Northern Ireland, which proved costly, or business requirements dictate using existing staff and in-house training courses.
 
“Training has become ever more important within the business. Because we have downsized there has been a definite knock-on effect in terms of skill gap. Quality of product and cost reductions are big issues facing every business at the minute,” said one employer.
 
Through Train The Trainer, staff responsible for training are now up-skilled and awarded external certification; giving in-house trainers greater confidence while providing the company with an invaluable, cost effective support network.  The project has also now developed a wider network of accredited trainers in Northern Ireland.

The training course is delivered through a network of colleges and partly subsided. The project in Northern Ireland involved 11 companies:
Acheson Glover
Camden Group
Chesapeake
Clarke Group
Decora Blinds
Delta packaging
Glasseal
Quarry Products Association Northern Ireland
Quinn Group
Skyglaze
ToughGlass

As a result, 21 individuals became accredited trainers, creating a network of Proskills in-house trainers and as a result employers saw an improvement in business performance and customer service.

Brenda McStravick from Quinn Group, one of the companies involved in the project, said: “Interventions such as the Proskills Train The Trainer Course really help us to formalise our approach to training. The accredited in house trainer at supervisor level is of enormous benefit to our packaging business.”

“It has been a challenge for our partner employers to release individuals to attend these training courses in the current economic environment but those who have attended will be bringing back tangible benefits into their business,” said Paul Coffey. NI Director for Proskills. “We now have a network of accredited trainers in our sectors, which is a fantastic step on the journey of achieving increased productivity through a highly skilled workforce.”

01235 833 844
info@proskills.co.uk