Best places to work are those that invest in the region’s workforce

Tees Valley Combined Authority is working to help businesses develop their workforce and skills support

We know that some of the best places to work – and most successful companies – are those that care about, and invest in, the region’s workforce.

Tees Valley Combined Authority sponsored the Best Place to Work category at the North East Business Awards earlier this month – and we’re giving local firms a fantastic opportunity to show how they want to make a difference.

We have a number of great programmes to help businesses develop their workforce and skills support, and are calling on all employers to take advantage to make our region an even better place to work and do business.

Applications are now open for the second year of the Youth Guarantee Trailblazer, funded by the UK Government, following a pilot which attracted interest from more than 1,700 people aged 18 to 21. It is delivering high-quality support for young people not in education, employment and training, helping them to build experience, confidence and a pathway into lasting employment.

They can also be offered a paid work experience placement of up to five months with a local employer. For employers, wages for work placements are fully funded to keep financial costs to businesses as low as possible, alongside more targeted support to help you take on a placement.

TVCA can also help companies develop opportunities to take on apprentices, with our team on hand to help you get started and let you know what incentive payments you could receive for hiring certain apprentices.

Our Apprenticeship Levy Matching service can match levy payers who want to transfer unspent funds with other local employers seeking apprentices, giving them further backing to equip the next generation with skills vital to the success of their industries.

TVCA’s devolved Adult Skills Fund offers flexible, funded training to develop your workforce – supporting recruitment, development and retention that is designed around real business needs. We work with employers to develop expertise businesses need now and in the future.

And Connect to Work helps employers support employees with health conditions, disabilities or other barriers to work, helping build a stronger, more inclusive workforce. We have employment specialists working with local people aged 18+ to find and help meaningful employment, and can connect them to your industry.

So if you have gaps in your workforce, or want to take your existing staff to the next level, get in touch.

For more information, visit teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/business/business-growth-support/workforce-skills/