Grant provides fresh training to Barnsley business

Businesses in Barnsley and across the LCR are benefiting from over £2 million of training grants thanks to the LEP.

Businesses in Barnsley and 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, enabling them to invest in the development of their workforce.

One business benefitting from the support is Barnsley-based Target Information Systems, a software company who received a £3,600 grant from the LEP skills service for bespoke marketing training.

Target design and provide specialist UK developed software management systems globally to companies such as Coca-Cola Enterprises, Kier Group and Pret A Manger, to enable greater business efficiencies through providing solutions for the data management challenges businesses face.

Supporters of continuous professional development, Target are keen to help and nurture their internal talent not only to benefit company growth, but provide valuable skills for their employees which they can take away to progress their own careers.

Phil Atkinson, Managing Director at Target says: “Olivia has become a diligent and very capable young lady that is continually growing in her role with Target. Through funding from the LEP’s skills service we are able to provide Olivia with the opportunity to work with a dynamic and successful marketing consultancy.”

Fresh Marketing Solutions will work with Olivia over the year to provide marketing training to enhance current marketing and sales efforts to establish best practices for attracting, engaging and closing new and more clients.

Mark Ridgway, LEP Board member and chair of the skills service management board, said: “We’re delighted that we could provide Target Information Systems with the funding that the business needs. As a business owner with 10% of our employees in apprenticeship schemes, I’m especially pleased we were able to help them support young talent in order to grow their business.

“The LEP’s skills service offers the opportunity to work with a team of expert skills advisors who support employers to tackle paperwork and submit a robust application for funding. 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 or contact us on 0113 386 1910 and skills@the-lep.com.