SMALL businesses with fewer than 40 staff are being encouraged to sign up for the next round of Training for Success courses this autumn.

The courses are being organised by two specialists with their own small businesses, Mary Curtis and Debbie Boon, who will take delegates through the steps they can take to draw up a training plan for the business and develop it.

Up to 50 employers have already completed the course, which consists of three workshops.

Firms can either send a representative who will act as the first point of contact for training, or directors can themselves attend.

The programme is sponsored by the States Training and Employment Partnership and there is no charge.

The initiative is part of the Economic Development Department’s strategy to improve the skills of the Island’s workforce.

Gill de la Mare, of Technicare, commented: ‘The pace of delivery of the course was just right and was made very relevant to our individual businesses by the amount of group discussion.