Blackpool training group's expansion continues

Training Works, based at the Enterprise Centre on Lytham Road, has just completed leadership and skills training with Blackpool air conditioning specialists Gilberts.

And the company has just secured three European Social Fund contracts and importantly its first “Levy Employer” deal.

It works with businesses throughout the Fylde coast to help them upskill their workforce and enable staff to apply for and secure promotion.

It was set up by husband and wife team Philip and Sharon Bonell to take advantage of their collective 40 years’ experience in the field. It now has a staff of 12 and specialises in childcare, health and social care, business administration, team leading, management, customer services, and retail management.

Sharon Bonell said: “It is a tough sector to be in but very rewarding when you see people acquiring the skills they and their employers need to progress.

“Our work with Gilberts was to deliver Team Leading Apprenticeships to a cohort of eight learners.

“Following the successful delivery of the apprenticeship, one team member gained promotion after getting his qualification and gaining the confidence to apply for a team leaders role.

“It was a 12-month course delivered in the workplace and following on from that Gilberts have kindly given us two more cohorts to train.

“Gilberts manufacture air conditioning units and are a well respected firm so we are delighted to have been able to help them. We now have a staff of 12 but we are hoping to double that within the next two months.

“We have secured three European Social Fund contracts and are on the RoATP Register of apprenticeship training providers and bidding for Levy Paying Employers apprenticeship training contracts which are with some of the bigger employees in the country.

“We are delighted to have secured our first.”