GFirst LEP secure over 100k to develop skills in the City

Gloucester’s training providers and business community are set to benefit from over £100,000 worth of funding that has been secured by GFirst LEP, and co-financed by the European Social Fund.

Working with businesses across the county the fund will provide free training for business individuals in the nationally acclaimed WorldHost training programme. Seeing the opportunity to make Gloucestershire sustainable by keeping skills within the county, this funding will allow 10 local trainers to become WorldHost accredited, then pass on their expertise to prepare Gloucester’s business people with customer facing skills, ready for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

As Gloucester City is set to expect an influx of visitors during 2015, embedding these skills will ensure that the City is ready to welcome and make the best impression to visitors, through the world-renowned features within the WorldHost programme. It is important to increase the knowledge of our customer service facing businesses in order to develop the local economy and support the City’s long term goal to become a WorldHost accredited destination. These programmes are set to give a clear understanding of how day to day interactions can affect experiences within destinations, as well as teach vital communication skills that will set business individuals up for success.

David Owen, Chief Executive of GFirst LEP, commented: ‘Skills development is  at the top of our agenda, this outstanding amount of funding offering world class training to Gloucester businesses will be extremely valuable in making us a sustainable county, as well as developing the expertise of our business people efficiently. This funding recognises an opportunity to benefit Gloucestershire’s retail, leisure and tourism sectors by safeguarding and developing jobs, as well as growing Gloucestershire’s economy.’

In advance of the hosting of matches at the Kingsholm stadium, SERCO, who manage the funds, will work together with Gloucester City Council, Marketing Gloucester and local businesses in order to provide the WorldHost training to local business people. SERCO’s ongoing partnership with the LEP has already supported one hundred SMEs and one thousand learners across the county in the past 18 months.

The WorldHost programme will help Gloucester businesses to excel in customer service during the Rugby World Cup, as well as providing skilled individuals for the future.