WEST Devon Business Information Point launched its new ?Business Buddies? programme last week which offers enterprises in the area financial help to train their staff.
Businesses in the care sector were invited to West Devon Business Information Point?s offices in Okehampton last Thursday to find out more about the free development support initiative.
Okehampton-based Business Counsellor Brian Watson said West Devon Business Information Point had chosen to launch the scheme by meeting with care and residential home businesses because it was an industry with a growing focus on staff gaining vocational qualifications.
Mr Watson said the working hours lost by sending staff out on training courses could be quite a big problem for small businesses and he explained the scheme was able to offer financial support to lessen the burden.
Mr Watson said there was a £400,000 training bursary fund available through the scheme, which could provide a 50% subsidy on employee training costs.
There had been a ?good response? from business owners and managers to the Business Buddies initiative.
?The scheme is for businesses that are growing and want to develop their staff.
?People are very keen to do it because it is going to be a good cost saving for them,? he said.
Other key benefits of the scheme include a rolling programme of free workshops for business owners/managers and on-site support from an advisor to mentor those undertaking training to ensure the most is made of the new skills gained.
Those who do not qualify to benefit from Business Buddies include those in the agriculture, retail, transport and tourism sectors.
Businesses must also employ a workforce of 250 or fewer and operate in the West Devon area to be eligible.
However, Mr Watson was keen to stress that businesses which were not eligible for this programme could in many cases be given support by West Devon Business Information Point through other schemes.
The Business Buddies scheme was launched across Devon last week, funding for the project was secured by Business Link through the Learning Skills Council.
If you would like to find out more about the scheme contact Tim Drew or Brian Watson on freephone 0800 592872.
West Devon Business Information Point has been running for more than a decade, and worked with more than 1,000 business in the area last year alone.
West Devon Business Information Point is the Local Enterprise Agency for West Devon and is a non-profit making company. It is a member of CaDLEA ? Cornwall and Devon Local Enterprise Agencies.