Twenty jobs have been secured and 150 apprenticeships guaranteed after a leading Birmingham training company won a major contract with the Skills Funding Agency.
GB Training (UK) Ltd, which already holds contracts with more than three large colleges and runs its own training provision, has won a six-figure contract to deliver apprenticeships for 16-24-year-olds.
The family-run business, one of the largest independent providers in the UK, is one of less than 100 providers to get a direct contract from the government-funded agency.
It means 20 staff at the company, based in Bromsgrove Street, Birmingham, have had their jobs secured and there will be 150 new opportunities for apprenticeships.
The firm, which was founded 17-years-ago by mother-of-five Gill Barton from her spare room, now works with industry giants including Cadburys, the Royal Mail, IKEA and Radisson Hotels.
It also currently works with more than 150 SMEs looking after around 1,000 learners currently registered with GB Training.
Bosses now want to support more small-to-medium-sized businesses, as a result of the direct contact, to help them take on an apprentice with support through fully-funded training.
Gill Barton, company founder, said: “This is the first direct contract we have won from the Skills Funding Agency. It puts both the company in a strong position as well as enabling us to help young people access good quality training with real opportunities to get good jobs.”
The money will support apprenticeships in a whole range of sectors including hospitality, IT, health and social care as well as customer service and business administration.
Lawrence Barton, GB Training (UK) Ltd managing director, added: “While we do work with a great many major employers to deliver apprenticeship training we are very keen to broaden our SME engagement thanks to the direct contract. We want to work with those smaller firms, which could really benefit from taking on an apprentice to help grow their business. I’d urge employers to get in touch and find out more.”
GB Training (UK) Ltd is hosting a breakfast and afternoon recruitment fairs for employers where they can get more information about taking on apprentices, as well as finding out how to access £1,500 towards the cost of taking on an apprentice.
The business advice sessions are being held at The Penthouse, in Bromsgrove Street, on Wednesday November 21 from 8-10am and 4-6pm.
For more information about the free sessions or about apprenticeship training with GB Training Ltd contact 0844 812 9444.
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