“Train to Gain has really helped to put us on the map”
A South West training provider, employer and employee discuss the benefits of investing in skills.
Otter Nurseries is a family-owned garden centre business based in the South West. Founded in the 1960s, the company has four sites – three in Devon and one in Hampshire – and a 500-strong workforce. The Plymouth branch employs around 90 people, from garden centre assistants to catering staff, and is firmly committed to training. It made the Skills Pledge in July this year (2008) and is currently working towards the Investors in People Standard.
The employer
Sean Duff, General Manager, Otter Nurseries of Plymouth
“When I joined the company three years ago there were no training plans in place. I found out about Train to Gain through Business Link and they made it clear what up-to-date training and funding options were available. By the end of this year we will hit our target of 20 people achieving NVQ Level 2 (the equivalent of five good GCSEs) or above through Train to Gain – in areas like Team Leading, Customer Service, Retail Skills, Business and Administration and Professional Cookery. The majority have done Level 2 but some employees have completed Level 3 (the equivalent of 2 A-Level passes) and seven managers have completed Leadership and Management workshops.
“Train to Gain has helped the company tremendously. It has put Otter Nurseries on the map as a forward-thinking business in the retail sector. We can clearly see the value in terms of personal and business development. Those people we have spent time on and invested in are the ones who are the most productive, give the best service and have the highest morale and lowest absence rates. The business is now supporting and funding training and we are very proud of the way we invest in our people. It’s a win-win situation.”
The training provider
Sarah Hicks, Skills Team Leader, Workforce Development, City College Plymouth
“The role of the Workforce Development team is to be the link between employers and the provision at City College Plymouth. We start by asking employers lots of questions about what they are looking to achieve and then work with them to identify training that will have real benefit and impact for them. We look at various training packages and where possible these are funded through Train to Gain.
“We have a very good relationship with Otter Nurseries. From our perspective it is great to work with employers who can see the genuine benefits of training. Over the two years we have worked with Otter Nurseries the business has grown and diversified and Sean is very vocal about the benefits training has brought, including increased morale, lower absenteeism and staff who are highly motivated.”
The employee
Anita Sayles, Communications Assistant, Otter Nurseries of Plymouth
“My job entails sending emails and letters to customers, organising signage around the store and computer work. Achieving an NVQ Level 2 in Business and Administration through Train to Gain has taught me to be more confident and I now try to solve problems rather than asking somebody else. The assessors from City College Plymouth were very helpful and I was so proud when I achieved the qualification. I have since completed a NVQ Level 2 for IT users (ITQ) and would definitely like to do a Level 3 qualification in the future.”
Read more Train to Gain News Issue 7 articles
- Editorial by Paul Holme
- 60 Second Interview with Ian Ferguson
- Q&A The manager of a small seaside hotel asks Train to Gain skills broker Catherine Owens for advice
