Hull business welcomes training support
A family-run business in east Hull say city initiatives which are assisting small firms in the current economic climate are helping to make companies like theirs feel less isolated.
Rob and Emma Wells of Lowgate Garage in Sutton have successfully applied for more than £400 in grant-funding through Probe (Hull) Ltd to send an employee for skills training. Rob, 35, and Emma 37, who took over the business from Rob’s dad 18 months ago, learnt about the range of support for small firms after they visited the Waterloo Motor Show at the Willerby Manor Hotel in May.
Emma says: “We usually go to the motor trade shows as it’s an opportunity to network with our suppliers and talk to other garages. It was quite by chance that we discovered through Probe the range of help on offer. Usually nothing’s for free, but when we invited Probe to call us, they were able to offer support for one of our mechanics on a training course. They also assessed our health & safety and environmental policies.”
Rob adds: “We employ five staff and decided it was an opportunity to send one of the lads for training on air conditioning which includes new gas-handling regulations. It’ll help us immediately over the summer with holiday cover.”
Lowgate took advantage of the Grow Project’s initiative to upskill staff. Probe also leads on a programme of free assistance to businesses concerned about managing costs and improving viability with the aim of preventing job cuts.
Grow, which is funded through Yorkshire Forward, the European Regional Development Fund and ONE HULL- the city’s local strategic partnership - is providing the scheme to help local employers develop sound strategies and improve the company’s viability without losing staff.
Probe’s Contract Manager Donna Jackson says: “We had a very good response to the Waterloo show and we want to go out to more trade fairs to raise awareness of our project and other ways that Probe’s Employment Team can help businesses. We do have partner-organisations across the city so dozens of small firms can benefit the way Lowgate Garage did.”
The scheme can also offer work-based mentoring which is delivered through Probe, Goodwin Development Trust, Hull Llite, Skills for Communities, Latitude and specialists KPMG and Rollits . They can, where possible, provide funding for staff training and equipment and assist with “into work into business” grants.
Probe is looking for other opportunities to meet employers at their trade events. For further details about Grow: Employment Sustainability or to invite the team to an industry event in the city, log on to http://www.growinhull.co.uk or call 01482 710141.
