Aim
The OASES DP aimed to enhance employees' skills levels in small to medium sized enterprise (SME) competitiveness in the engineering and manufacturing sectors in Medway and North Kent. The project responded to current economic threats to the industry and recognised its status as a significant local employer. The training programme was tailored to provide advanced skills in engineering, management and supervisory skills, and ICT in emerging technologies.
Background
OASES responded to skills shortages identified in the South East England Regional Development Plan. This highlights the engineering sector as a priority sector for improved business competitiveness through learning, and stresses a need for increased awareness of business-to-business e-commerce and development of world class management.
Objectives
- Training employees to work with new engineering technologies to thereby increase company productivity, efficiency and competitiveness.
- Enhancing managerial and supervisory skills.
- Enabling companies to determine the appropriateness of venturing into e-business or business within the EU.
- Improving communication and efficiency throughout the engineering and manufacturing supply chain in Medway and North Kent.
- Encouraging businesses to view lifelong training as a positive and long-term investment in staff.
- Equipping micro-businesses with the managerial and corporate skills necessary in order to expand and develop.
Target Beneficiary Groups
OASES was committed to the development of corporate learning strategies, and the promotion of lifelong learning and continual development of the workforce. It actively encouraged businesses to work towards Investors in People and to integrate equal opportunities throughout all business activities. Each delegate was supported by a tutor from the training team, for advice and guidance on further progression. There was also particular emphasis on supply chain management, so that benefits extended beyond an individual business level.
OASES was dedicated to equal opportunities and actively recruited women (due to their under-representation in the industry) as well as ethnic minorities, disabled and workers over 45.
Main outcomes
OASES recruited a total of 275 beneficiaries from 35 small businesses and 5 large companies.(including BaE Systems) The project offered in excess of 40 training modules. The successful bidding for ESF funding and from cash funding from Medway Council meant that all the modules available were free of charge to the businesses involved.
The course modules lasted between one and four days, unless it was for a qualification and this ranged from 10 days to 35 weeks, delivered over the period from May 2002 to Summer 2004. The course modules that were qualification based enabled 10 people to qualify with a Certificate in First Line Management.
