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Reading Skills for BusinessSkills for Business artwork

Reading Skills for Business is a new scheme developed by Reading UK CIC in partnership with Thames Valley University and Business Link Berkshire to improve access to training for businesses and staff in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors.

Reading UK CICs Local Economy Group (LEG) is charged with overseeing the delivery of Reading’s economic Local Area Agreement targets and has identified skills as the key priority in maintaining the success of the local economy. Recent research identified very poor take-up of LSC funded training provision and thus a step change in the way skills activity is co-ordinated and delivered is needed. Consequently,the company is leading on three skills initiatives linked to its LAA targets namely: 

  • Retail Skills Centre in partnership with The Oracle

  • Greater Reading Employer Skills Survey (detailed feedback from
    500 + local employers presented at the Skills for Business Summit on 28 January 2009)

  • Skills for Business initiative, which has seen the company successfully bid to the LSC for funds to improve levels of learning activity amongst adults.

To date the scheme has successfully signed up over 400 new adults aged 19-23, in an effort to encourage them to develop NVQ 2 and 3 skills, offer more employment opportunities and encourage staff retention.