Employers know that investment in skills builds a better business.

A new survey confirms that Scottish business leaders value training as a way of helping them to grow and develop their businesses.

Four out of five employers support investment in staff training according to a new survey conducted by Scottish Chambers of Commerce. The survey showed that despite the current economic conditions, 80% of employers had arranged or funded training for their staff during the past 12 months.

Most businesses surveyed felt challenged by current economic challenges and wanted to work with public sector organisations that can help them to grow and develop their people.

Renfrewshire Council’s Invest in Renfrewshire programme was launched last year to support local businesses and create work opportunities for young unemployed people in the area.

Councillor Roy Glen, convener of the council’s Economy and Jobs Policy Board, is proud of its progress. “It’s encouraging to see that so many businesses see investment in their workforce as a way of staying competitive, even during hard economic times.

“Support for training is a key part of the package that we’re offering local businesses through Invest in Renfrewshire. Business in Renfrewshire can get grants for as much as half of the cost of training.”

Euroscot Engineering, which employs 14 people at its factory in Hillington, is already benefiting from the council’s support.

Euroscot’s owner, Ian Rorison, said “We signed up to Invest in Renfrewshire in August and it has helped our business to grow.

“We’ve been able to train our staff to use new equipment and we’ve been able to invest in management and development training.

Invest in Renfrewshire has also helped us to improve our premises and buy new software.”

More information on staff training and other business support available from Invest in Renfrewshire is available at www.investinrenfrewshire.org or by calling 0300 3000 144

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