Training for Business

A skilled and available workforce is one of the primary considerations for any business starting, expanding or investing in a particular location.

Chester benefits from a broad cross-section of skilled men and women among its 118,225 population. That is one reason why so many quality employers continue to locate and expand in Chester.

Chester's current draft Economic Development Strategy, 2003-2008 seeks  to address local skills & labour market issues. Its aim and objectives include:

Aim

To make Chester a centre of excellence for Lifelong Learning so that the wider Chester area can meet the skills and labour market challenges, short to long term. To fulfil this aim the District needs to provide varied, responsive and accessible learning opportunities at the highest standards to individuals throughout their lives.

Objectives

In collaboration with Cheshire Learning Partnership, we will work closely with Cheshire and Warrington Learning and Skills Council, local businesses, education and training providers, and the community/voluntary sector to:

• Develop a learning culture and promote Chester as a "Learning City" comprised of learning communities, with an emphasis on informal as well as formal learning
• Meet the skills and educational demands of local employers, particularly in the health, clerical and financial, tourism and retail sectors and increase the engagement of employers in workforce development
• To increase engagement with social enterprises, community and voluntary sectors
• Retain graduates and skilled staff in Chester to meet local need
• Secure quality employment by working with employers and continue to reduce unemployment and underemployment through local business forums, Intermediate Labour Market ( ILM ) initiatives and local labour market agreements
• Enhance the quality and range of learning provision available to adults and young people across the District, ensuring flexible and innovative learning that meets individuals' needs
• Increase adult participation in learning and achievement in education and training by addressing barriers to learning and making learning opportunities accessible to all, but in particular, to individuals with disabilities, the disadvantaged, socially excluded and those in rural communities

Chester is well placed to meet future needs with a wide range of educational institutions too, including:

• University of Chester (external link)
• West Cheshire College (external link)
• College of Law  (external link)

The primary training organisation for the Chester area is the Cheshire & Warrington Learning & Skills Council, which has a wide range of business orientated training products and services to benefit local companies. Call the Learning & Skills Council on 0845 0194163 for details.

There also exist a number of private training organisations in the area , including DDI (Chester) Ltd, 01244 320042, North West Training Council, 01244 380567, and YMCA Training, 01244 311879.