LEP funding helps Yorkshire tourist attraction build their business

Wentworth Castle is a grade 1 listed building where visitors can enjoy a family-friendly day out with events and impressive scenery as well as a venue for weddings and formal events. They approached the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership for support and funding to grow their business.

Upskilling staff

Barnsley-based attraction, Wentworth Castle Gardens are benefitting from a funding grant to train staff in Leadership & Management skills, which will allow the team to take on additional responsibilities and improve organisational culture.

Investing in talent

The business were keen to combat the high staff turnover traditionally associated with the hospitality sector by investing in existing staff and ensuring employees felt valued, in turn creating a workplace where staff were able to progress internally through increased knowledge and skills.

Claire Herring, Director of Wentworth Castle explains: “In order to achieve our planned business growth, and maintain our reputation, we needed to train and develop our staff and retain staff who are committed to the business.  As a small organisation it is difficult for us to recruit fully trained staff and our preferred strategy is to support and develop internal talent.

“We approached the LEP skills service to apply for funding for a level 3 Institute of Leadership and Management Supervisory course for three members of staff. They've all came to the trust as junior members of the team and were recently internally promoted to supervisory posts.

“Thanks to the funded training, we believe that trained supervisors will get more from their teams through developing their leadership, communication, feedback and performance management skills and their understanding of the role of a supervisor.  The teams that they supervise will also benefit and overall we hope to support effective team working, efficient working and ultimately grow the business.”

Long term growth

Mark Ridgway, LEP Board member and chair of the skills service management board, said: “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. The LEP are dedicated to ensuring local businesses primed for growth have the skills to succeed.”