LEP supports over 600 local businesses to train staff

Businesses across Leeds City Region are benefitting from over £2 million worth of training grants thanks to the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The funding has supported the training of over 600 businesses across the region, enabling them to invest in the development of their workforce.

One business benefitting from the support is Just Paper Tubes LTD, a manufacturer of cardboard cores and postal tubes, based in Selby. The business supplies its cardboard cores to a range of blue-chip clients, including many of the UK’s favourite brand named tape cores. The manufacturing facility operates 24 hours, and November 2015 alone saw over 4.5million label and tapes cores produced.

Just Paper Tubes LTD are currently rolling out a plan to become the most advanced tube manufacturers in the industry, and were keen to undertake training to ensure that the business continues to offer the high quality and reliable service that it’s known for.

The business has been delivering superior cardboard cores and tubes for 25 years, but in the last 12 months it has worked hard to grow, which has enabled the company to recruit more staff and launch an apprenticeship programme. As a result of the growth in staff the business identified a skills gap, and recognised the need to invest in training.

Harry Coates, General Manager at Just Paper Tubes LTD, said: “The training offered by the LEP has been invaluable as it has enabled us to upskill our teams. Part of the funding from the training programme went towards a sales training course, which gave us a better understanding on how we could use social media to grow our business. This has meant that we are now able to communicate with our current customers, reach out to new customers, and promote the values that we base ourselves on. We’ve also used the funding to send some of our staff on Human Resources courses run by ACAS.

“We would certainly recommend the LEP, as it has helped us carry out training sessions that wouldn’t have been possible under our current training budget. It was very easy to get approval and the LEP was always on hand should we have a query. We are really pleased that businesses like ours in Selby are able to benefit from this funding.”

Mark Ridgway, LEP Board member and chair of the skills service management board, said: “We’re delighted that we could provide Just Paper Tubes LTD with the funding that the business needs for the next stage of its expansion plan.

“With grants of between £500 and £50,000 available to businesses with a budget to put towards training, employers have the opportunity to work with a team of expert skills advisors, discuss their long term growth plans and skills needs, and put together a robust training plan for their staff.

“Offering a comprehensive service to businesses, the team of advisors support employers to tackle paperwork, source appropriate training provision and submit an application for funding. In particular, with Just Paper Tubes LTD, we offered additional support to find a training provider.

“The LEP is dedicated to ensuring local businesses, primed for growth, have the skills to succeed.”

As part of the LEP’s wider ambitions to invest in business growth, the skills service can support up to 50% of training costs for eligible businesses throughout the Leeds City Region through grants of between £500 and £50,000. Funding is available for a limited time. To find out if your business is eligible and to apply, please visit: www.the-lep.com/skillsservice