Would you like a grant of £2,000 to grow your
business?
Skills for Economic Growth is an Essex County Council programme that provides training grants of up to £2,000 to help Essex businesses to grow.
What is on offer?
Essex County Council contributes 70% of the training cost (up to £2,000) and you just need to contribute the remaining 30% (plus any VAT that may be due if you are registered for VAT). We can fund the one
training course that will have the most impact on your business. Due to limited funding we are only able
to support you with one application to the programme.
What training courses can I do?
You can pick the course and Training Provider which are right to grow your business. Over 350 Essex businesses have now been funded by the programme to complete a training course that will grow their business and some examples of these are given below. These are just suggestions of courses that may help your business – we want you to lead the decision so you can put forward any training area and provider that works for you.
NEBOSH National General Certificate – Roberge Brickworks, Halstead
ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management – Printech Circuit Laboratories, South Woodham Ferrers
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Certificate for Financial Services – Sacre Associates, Chelmsford
Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma in Digital Marketing – Zero Above, Bures Passivhaus – Green Architect, nr. Halstead
Advanced Diploma in Financial Planning – WRS Fornham, Colchester Advanced CNC Machine Tooling System – Wilks Manufacturing, Tollesbury Level 3 IT Practitioner – Clear Thinking IT, Billericay
Further details on eligible training and costs are detailed in Section 5 of this document.
Who can apply?
Businesses can apply who employ less than 250 people (globally) and are located within Essex (excluding Southend and Thurrock unitary areas and London boroughs). The business must also operate in one of the following sectors:
Advanced Manufacturing & Electronics, Construction, Creative, Financial Services, Life Sciences (R&D & Manufacturing), Low Carbon & Renewable Energy, Offshore Energy & Oil and Gas, Technology,
Transport & Logistics.
Please note that businesses which are mainly retail (i.e. more than 50% of business activity is selling goods to the public) cannot be funded.
SKI1: Skills for Economic Growth
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v3When do I need to apply?
All training must be started by 31st March 2014. Please note that you must receive approval for the
grant from Essex County Council before you book or commit to the training.
How do I apply?
The process to make an application is straightforward and is explained in a step-by-step guide below. If you have any queries on the application process please contact Essex County Council (ECC) by email
Section 1: Business Contact Details
To be eligible, the applicant business must currently be trading and be based within political Essex (within Essex boundaries and excluding Southend and Thurrock unitary areas and London boroughs). Name of Business………..…… Website……….…….…….……….….…. Building Number/Name……….……..….. Street ………….………...………..…………..… Town……….………. County………...………. Post Code …...………...… Contact’s Title …..…... First Name ………..………...…. Last Name ……….…....…….…… Contact’s Telephone ………..….. Contact’s Email ………….……….…………..………… [ ] I have attached a copy of the business letterhead and confirm the business is currently trading
Section 2: Business Sector
Business sectors that can be supported by this programme are listed below. Please note that businesses which are mainly retail (i.e. more than 50% of business activity is selling goods to the public) cannot be funded.
Please tick the one box that most closely describes the sector that you operate within:
[ ] Advanced Manufacturing & Electronics [ ] Construction [ ] Creative [ ] Financial Services
[ ] Life Sciences (R&D & Manufacturing) [ ] Low Carbon & Renewable Energy
[ ] Offshore Energy & Oil and Gas [ ] Technology [ ] Transport & Logistics
Section 3: Size of Business
The programme can only support small or medium-sized businesses (SMEs) who employ fewer than 250 full time equivalent staff members. If you are part of a group of businesses this must include the total numbers and amounts for the whole group (including any organisations that own your business and/or any trading subsidiaries). Which of the following categories applies to your business (including you)? [ ] 1 to 9 employees [ ] 10 to 49 employees [ ] 50 to 249 employees
Section 4: State Aid
Will the total of state aid (financial assistance from a public source) given to your business be more than EUR 200,000 over the 3-year period ending next 6th April?
[ ] Yes [ ] No
If you have ticked 'Yes', ECC will need to contact you to ascertain the level and type of state aid received before an offer of support can be made.
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v3Section 5: Training Course
Providing the training meets the following criteria you can pick the course that will most help your
business to grow. Due to limited funding, please note that we are unfortunately only able to offer support for one training course for each applicant business. If you would like assistance in making this choice you can discuss the options with your Sector Advisor (details at the end of this document).
The skills gained by the business must grow your business and be at an advanced level. The training cannot be a renewal of an existing skill.
Training must start before 31st
March 2014 and be completed within two years
Employees completing the training must be legally resident in the UK and able to take paid employment in a European Member State
Excludes accommodation, travel or subsistence costs incurred by attending the training and
excludes costs for advice, guidance or support from the Training Provider (including, but not limited to, coaching, consulting, profiling, mentoring, networking or course development costs). If any of these costs apply to the training, the Training Provider will need to be contacted to adjust the cost and you will need to attach information on this calculation to this application.
We ask you to provide two options of Training Providers to help ensure that you receive good value for money and have considered alternatives. Please note that you need to provide details for both options (e.g. website page or email correspondence) for us to review with the application.
YOUR PREFERRED TRAINING PROVIDER
Name of Training Course ……….………. Name of Training Provider……….…………..………..…… Website ……… Email……….……….……… Training Start Date …………/………..……/..……...… Training End Date …………/………..……/..……...… Proposed total training cost (excl. VAT) £……….………… [ ] I have attached details on this option
YOUR SECOND CHOICE FOR TRAINING PROVIDER
Name of Training Course ……….………. Name of Training Provider……….…………..………..…… Website ……… Email……….……….……… Training Start Date …………/………..……/..……...… Training End Date …………/………..……/..……...… Proposed total training cost (excl. VAT) £……….………… [ ] I have attached details on this option
Why have you selected YOUR PREFERRED TRAINING PROVIDER to deliver the training? The reasons may include cost, distance from business location, delivery method etc.
………..………..……… ………..………..………
Section 6: Training Needs
To help us understand how the training will help your business we need to ask you for some background on your plans for growth and the training needs that you have identified.
What does your business do?
………..……….……… ………..……….……… ………..……….……… What new skills will you learn from the training?
………..……….……… ………..……….……… ………..……….……… How will these new skills grow your business?
………..……….……… ………..……….……… ………..……….……… Please estimate the approximate financial increase (that can be specifically connected to this training) that you expect to receive within the next 12 months for the following areas. For example, £30k in new contracts won and £30k saved from less outsourcing of work. This is critical information because we need to see how the funding that we provide will lead to measurable business growth.
Increased sales/value of
new contracts won: £ Reduced outsourcing cost: £ Improved efficiency: £ Other financial impacts (if
applicable): * £
Please add together all of the increase estimates here (to give an overall
total): £
*Please describe other financial impacts here: ……….…..
What other changes do you expect to see in your business as a result of the training over the next 12 months (e.g. increased staff morale, better team-working).
………..……….……….……… ………..……….………….……… We may contact you after you have started the training to ask for more detailed information on the impact that the training is having on your business.
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v3Section 7: VAT Registration
Are you registered for VAT? [ ] Yes [ ] No
Are you able to recover VAT on the goods / services that you are purchasing with the grant funding? [ ] Yes [ ] No
If you have answered ‘No’ to either question above then please base the calculation in Section 12 on the cost inclusive of VAT (and ignore the references to the cost needing to exclude VAT). If you have selected ‘Yes’ to both questions above then we you will need to base the calculation in Section 12 on the cost exclusive of VAT.
Section 8: Business Payment Details
Please specify the business bank account that you would like the BACS payment to be transferred into. Bank Name ……… Account Name ……….
Sort Code Account Number
Please write the email address that you would like the BACS Remittance Advice to be sent to: ………
Section 9: Marketing Source
Did you first hear about us via an email, telephone call, Twitter or some other way? Please only select the first method by which you heard about the Skills for Economic Growth programme.
[ ] Email [ ] Telephone Call [ ] Newspaper [ ] Radio [ ] Face-to-face Conversation [ ] Twitter [ ] LinkedIn [ ] Magazine [ ] Other (please specify) ……….…………..
Which was the organisation that contacted you as described above? Please only select the one organisation that you first had contact with.
[ ] Essex County Council (ECC) Skills for Economic Growth [ ] ECC Apprenticeships [ ] ECC Invest Essex [ ] ECC Essex Innovation Programmes [ ] National Skills Academy [ ] Sector Skills Council [ ] Training Provider [ ] Jobcentre Plus [ ] District/Borough Council [ ] Bank Business Advisor [ ] Other (please specify) ……….…………..
Section 10: Further Opportunities & Support
We may be able to offer further support to you. Please tick the relevant boxes below to indicate which of the following services you would like to receive further information about.
Yes No Essex County Council paying you a wage subsidy to employ an apprentice
in your business
Essex County Council paying you a full subsidy for an extended work experience placement for a young person
Volunteering to become a mentor to young people in an Essex school about
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects Other business support services from Essex County Council Other business support services from Sector Skills Council, National Skills
Academy or other business support organisations What other opportunities have you identified that will help you to grow your business further?
………..……….……… ………..……….……… What other support (from Essex County Council or elsewhere) would help you to exploit these
opportunities?
………..……….……… ………..……….……… ………..……….………
Section 11: Feedback
How helpful were the team at Essex County Council in making your application?
[ ] Extremely Helpful [ ] Very Helpful [ ] Moderately Helpful [ ] Slightly Helpful [ ] Not At All Helpful [ ] N/A
How helpful was your Sector Advisor (listed at the end of this document) in making your application?
[ ] Extremely Helpful [ ] Very Helpful [ ] Moderately Helpful [ ] Slightly Helpful [ ] Not At All Helpful [ ] N/A
What changes would improve the Skills for Economic Growth programme?
……… ……… ………
SKI1: Skills for Economic Growth
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v3Section 12: Business Declaration
I confirm that all of the information provided on this form is correct and I will contact ECC if any details alter. I also confirm that I agree to the following details and understand that ECC will not be able to pay
any grants that do not meet these criteria.
I will ensure that the training will start before 31st
March 2014 and be completed within two years. I confirm that, without this funding, the training would not otherwise be taking place.
I confirm that the training is not statutory training that the business is legally required to complete. I will ensure that the full cost of training is paid before 31st
March 2014 and funds used to pay for the training will be from the business’ own resources and not from another funding project or programme.
I understand that completion of this form does not constitute an offer of support and I will therefore not book or pay for training until I receive written confirmation from ECC stating that support is available.
I understand that ECC may contact me to track progress and to request an update on how effective the training has been in meeting the aims that we initially identified in this application. I confirm that the cost for my preferred training course identified in Section 5 only
includes direct training costs and does not include any costs for advice, guidance or support from the Training Provider (I have attached details of the calculation to adjust the cost if this applies).
Please complete the table below with the cost of training (excluding any VAT due), the 70% grant that you are claiming and the 30% contribution from your business. I understand that ECC will base the grant payment on 70% of the actual cost that we pay for the training and so the grant will be calculated on the total cost stated in the invoice that I submit to ECC after the training has started.
Expected Total Cost of Training
(excluding VAT unless you answered
No to the VAT questions in section 7 and the supplier is actually charging you VAT).
Maximum Grant (70%). This
cannot exceed £2,000
Business Contribution (minimum 30%).
Signature ………. Date …..…/………/….…. Print Name……….………..
When the form has been completed it must be signed and then, with a copy of your business letterhead and supporting documents showing the two training options, either scanned and emailed to
skillsgrowth@essex.gov.uk or posted to Skills for Economic Growth Team, D205/6, County Hall, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1QH.
What happens next?
If your application is successful you will receive a letter from ECC confirming that you can book and pay for the training. When training has started you will then just need to email a (1) copy of the invoice to
skillsgrowth@essex.gov.uk and state that the (2) full training cost has been paid and that the (3) first
day of training has been completed. ECC will then release payment of the grant to the account that
you have provided details for above. Please email skillsgrowth@essex.gov.uk or call 01245 435387 if you have any queries about your application.
ECC Use Only (Offer) Approved ….…………Date .…../……/…… Authorised ….…………Date .…../……/……
[ ] TP Option 1 Attached [ ] TP Option 2 Attached [ ] Checked TP Options
You can contact impartial advisors from your sector to discuss the right course and provider to meet your needs.
Please refer to the list below (in alphabetical order by sector name) to find the relevant Sector Advisor for your business sector.
Advanced Manufacturing & Electronics
Sector Advisor Name: John Bradley Sector Advisor Organisation: Semta
Telephone Number: 08456439001
Email Address: jbradley@semta.org.uk
Website: www.semta.org.uk
Semta is the Sector Skills Council for the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering sectors. We address the sectors’ skills needs, providing expert support to improve performance and growth. Across the UK, Semta is responsible for 132,000 companies and 1.7 million-strong workforce that make up UK advanced manufacturing and engineering in Aerospace and Defence, Automotive, Marine, Metals and Electronics. In addition to our role as lead partner for the Advanced Manufacturing & Electronics sector on the Skills for Economic Growth programme, Semta can help you to improve your business performance through:
Support – to access funding, quality training providers and a suite of tools to give you a return on your skills investment
Employment – recruitment and mentoring of apprentices and graduates
Monitoring – assessing your supply chain capability to produce a company training plan
Training – high quality programmes, with demonstrable results from shop floor to managing director
Advice – on everything you need to be a success in the sector
If you are an SME (employing less than 250 staff) most of the above services are free.
__________________________________________________________________________ Construction
Please quote ‘Skills for Economic Growth Essex County Council’ in any communication
Sector Advisor Name: ConstructionSkills Thurmaston Hub Sector Advisor Organisation: ConstructionSkills
Telephone Number: 0300 456 5038
Email Address: central.sharedservices@cskills.org
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We are the Sector Skills Council and Industry Training Board for the construction industry, working with industry, for industry to deliver a safe, professional and fully qualified UK construction workforce. We work with construction companies to help them improve skills, increase their competitive edge and respond to the many challenges employers face – from the low carbon agenda, through to reducing costs on-site and recruiting the best andbrightest talent for their sector. We believe that developing the skills of workers in the construction industry is crucial to the health of the UK economy – that’s why we are working with employers to make sure our industry has the right skills in the right place, at the right time.
__________________________________________________________________________ Creative
Sector Advisor Name: Jack Briggs-Miller Sector Advisor Organisation: 15 Queen Street Telephone Number: 01206 562888 Email Address: jack@firstsite.uk.net
Website: www.15QueenStreet.org
Colchester plays home to a vast array of creative talent – from artists, graphic designers, poets and tailors to milliners, musicians, film-makers, cooks and thespians… the list is endless. Until now, this talent has been largely disconnected. Without a place to collaborate and flourish, they have been forced to leave Colchester in order to practice their trade elsewhere.
In response to this challenge, firstsite has collaborated with the Arts Council and The Creative Coop to seize an incredible opportunity to make use of a three storey Georgian building, right in the heart of the town centre. This building is called 15 Queen Street and the vision is to create a community owned space that helps creativity flourish at grass roots level in Colchester.
15 Queen Street is now looking to engage with businesses both within and beyond Colchester to understand ways to collaborate and build links across Essex and grow the creative economy.
Telephone Number: 07717 281006
Email Addres: john.carter@nsafs.co.uk
Website: www.nsafs.co.uk
The National Skills Academy for Financial Services are an educational charity that supports firms of all sizes within Financial Services in recruitment, induction and the skill development of their general workforce. We have developed a suite of products and services – from regulatory online modules to soft skill face to face workshops; from accreditation to electronic surveys – that are helping them to run their business more successfully as well as making a
social contribution to the industry.
We act as a quality standard and catalyst, paving the way for firms to access our approved training providers. For instance we have links with 130 colleges, with 24 formal members of our network. We are also coordinating major, national projects with Barclays and Lloyds on a subject close to our hearts – helping young people to manage their money more effectively. Just one example of why we are the leading body for education, skills and training solutions within the sector.
__________________________________________________________________________ Life Sciences (R&D & Manufacturing)
Sector Advisor Name: Claire Abrams Sector Advisor Organisation: One Nucleus Telephone Number: 01223 896455
Email Address: cabrams@onenucleus.com
Website: www.onenucleus.com
One Nucleus is a membership organisation for international life science and healthcare companies. Formed in April 2010 by the merger of two regional life science networks – Cambridge-based ERBI and the London Biotechnology Network (LBN), One Nucleus is a not-for-profit, membership organisation, located at the centre of Europe’s leading life science and healthcare cluster.
More than 450 members include pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device and diagnostic companies and associated technical and commercial service providers.
One Nucleus’s mission is to maximise the global competitiveness of our members. For our science and technology-based members, that means being global leaders in the research, development and commercialisation of healthcare innovations that radically improve the quality of people’s lives around the world. For our business and professional services members, it means delivering exceptional services that significantly enhance the business performance of their clients.
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One Nucleus manages a portfolio of training courses designed to help life science and healthcare companies build an experienced and cohesive workforce. Our tailored training courses are based on the needs of our member companies.__________________________________________________________________________ Low Carbon & Renewable Energy
Sector Advisor Organisation: The National Skills Academy for Environmental Technology Telephone Number: 01908 303981
Email Address: enquiries@nsaet.org.uk
Website: www.nsaet.org.uk
The National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies is the UK’s leading network of quality energy efficiency and environmental technologies training. Its quality assured training providers deliver some of the best renewables and Green Deal training currently available across the country.
Its network of 23 lead training organisations are supported by over 100 other training
providers, located nationwide. They have been quality assessed and meet stringent criteria in order to deliver some of the best renewable training currently available in the country.
Training in building insulation, consumer awareness, energy efficiency, assessment, advice, and underpinning business and management skills are available alongside the Academy’s existing core environmental technology qualifications.
Those responsible for managing, purchasing or specifying environmental technologies can also benefit from a short training course from the National Skills Academy that covers how different environmental technologies work and the best applications for them.
Telephone Number: 07500 442 538
Email Address: liz.davis-smith@opito.com
Website: www.opito.com
Energy Skills Body OPITO aims to improve safety standards, enhance the talents of existing staff and remains committed to developing a safe and skilled sector. Its strategic role lies in identifying current and future skills needs and ensuring that education and training
arrangements are in place to meet them. Established by businesses and employers and with over 30 years’ experience, more than 500,000 offshore oil and gas workers in 40 countries have been trained to competence-based standards. OPITO develops standards based on industry demand covering a variety of safety and emergency response duties and
occupational roles as delivered by a network of approved training centres.
__________________________________________________________________________ Technology
Sector Advisor Name: Melissa Basterfield Sector Advisor Organisation: Intellect
Telephone Number: 0207 331 2024
Email Address: Melissa.Basterfield@Intellectuk.org
Website: www.intellectuk.org
Intellect is the voice of the UK's technology industry.
We believe that a vibrant and successful technology sector is vital to the long term economic well-being of the country. Our business services help companies of all sizes compete and innovate in a dynamic global market. We represent the views of industry to government and regulators and also provide opportunities for government and regulators to interact with industry on key policy and market issues.
Our vision for the UK
To be the world leader in the development and use of technology for the benefit of its economy and citizens.
Our vision for Intellect
To be the go-to organisation for the technology industry in the UK that connects people, knowledge and know-how to solve problems, share understanding and co-operate responsibly for mutual benefit and the benefit of customers, citizens and the economy.
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Our mission
Make the UK good for TECH
Work to ensure that the UK is the best place in the world for technology companies (both domestic and foreign owned) to locate and grow.
Make TECH good for UK
Work to ensure that the full economic potential of technology is harnessed right across the economy.
Make TECH good for UK people
Work to ensure that technology is used to improve and enhance the quality of life of all consumers and citizens.
__________________________________________________________________________ Transport & Logistics
Sector Advisor Name: Isobel Harding
Sector Advisor Organisation: Freight Transport Association Telephone Number: 07818 450 370
Email Address: iharding@fta.co.uk
Website: www.fta.co.uk
Freight Transport Association (FTA) is one of the UK’s largest trade associations and represents the transport interests of companies moving goods by road, rail, sea and air. Boasting a rich heritage, FTA has been supporting the interests of the transport industry since 1889.
FTA specialises in delivering safe, sustainable and efficient logistics. We do this in the following ways:
Representation - we represent the needs of the logistics industry at local, national and European level.
Campaigning - FTA’s campaigns raise awareness of the logistics industry. Compliance - we inform and prepare our members about the latest compliance
requirements.
Training - our training schemes improve the skills and knowledge of drivers and managers in the industry.
