The right training could deliver valuable skills for your business. Whatever route you decide to take - whether using an independent Business Link Adviser, or college or training provider - they will introduce you to reliable, local training provision and support. Your college or training provider will then deliver the right training to fulfil your skills needs.
What types of training can I access through Train to Gain?
From National Vocational Qualifications to on-site training, we’ll make sure you find the right skills solutions to meet your needs. Your Business Link Adviser, college and training provider will consider the whole spectrum of available training, and tailor their recommendations to your business.
We cover all of these and more:
- National Vocational Qualifications
- Apprenticeships
- Leadership and Management training
- bespoke courses
- basic skills (literacy, numeracy and English language)
- sector-specific skills
If you don’t have much time for training, our new smaller, focussed training programmes could help you get the skills you need. It’s available to small and medium sized private sector businesses. Find out more about business critical support for your business.
What kinds of colleges and training providers can I access?
Train to Gain works with colleges and training providers of all kinds – from universities to private training companies and individual business experts. Where you need support in identifying what Train to Gain can do for your business, an independent Business Link Adviser, or college or training provider will help you source a selection of high-quality local training options.You can also source high quality colleges and training providers online through the Next Step Course Directory.
What happens after I choose a college or training provider to deliver my training?
Your chosen college or training provider will contact you to discuss your needs. They’ll work to assess your employees and identify the skills that would benefit them and your business. They’ll then deliver the training to an agreed schedule. If you choose a college or provider you can easily check if they have satisfied our criteria for delivering high quality training for Train to Gain by looking on the Next Step Course Directory.
How do I know that the college or training provider I choose is reliable?
We’ll only source colleges and training providers that have been approved by the Skills Funding Agency. If you already use a non-Skills Funding Agency approved college or training provider, we’ll put them through our approval process to check that they offer a high standard of training.
How does the Skills funding Agency ensure their training providers are of the highest standard?
The Skills Funding Agency has a robust and rigorous process in place to ensure that training providers deliver the best service to employers. Training providers have to meet stringent requirements, set by the Skills Funding Agency, to secure contracts with Train to Gain. Each training provider has an Agency Partnership Manager, who works closely with training providers to ensure that they are meeting requirements and that employers receive the best possible service.
Training providers must demonstrate that they are business-focussed, have staff with recent experience of the business sector, experience working with employers to design training tailored to their particular needs, and be flexible in their delivery, at a time, place and pace that suits employers and their staff.
What is the Training Quality Standard
The Training Quality Standard (TQS) is an assessment framework and an assessment and certification process which has been designed to recognise and celebrate the best organisations delivering training and development solutions to employers. The TQS has been designed to reflect employers' priorities and expectations in sourcing training and development solutions, and the practices of the organisations proven to be the best at delivering them.
Can I find a college or training provider myself?
If you’d prefer to find a college or training provider without the help of a Business Link Adviser, you can use the Next Step Course Directory. This lists Skills Funding Agency contracted colleges and training providers in your area.
Find out more about the courses that businesses have accessed through Train to Gain – read our success stories.
