IT’S time to Switch on to Skills in a campaign backed by the Dorset Employment and Skills Board and Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership.

It aims to promote training, apprenticeships and skills opportunities to employers.

Switch on to Skills runs from February 6 and is also being backed by the Daily Echo and Dorset Echo.

The hope is to promote the need for businesses to develop their skills pools to maintain competitiveness, reduce staff turnover and strengthen the business for the future.

Rod Davis, MD of Dorset and Somerset Training Provider Network, said: “We are very fortunate in Dorset to have a healthy variety of diverse education and skills providers to meet the changing needs of the business community.

“Provision is on hand, covering the majority of the county’s business sectors, to support all levels of skills training and development needs from preparation for employment, foundation level, employment entry level, apprenticeships, further education and higher education.

“Over recent years the county’s colleges, independent training providers, community learning and the universities have been focused on developing a more responsive, flexible and demand-led service to organisations which help meet the challenge and needs of the business community.

“This development is a journey and not a destination, with continual development required to maintain effectiveness.

“Quality and value for money, whether the skills’ training is funded by the government or by employers, employers across Dorset, must feature in the development of modern training provision.

“Value for money can only be commented on by the end user, the employer.

“The performance of education and training providers across Dorset is very strong when compared to other counties in England.

“In delivery of Apprenticeships for example Dorset Providers regularly appear amongst the best if not the best in the country.”

To find out how you can “Get with Apprenticeships” visit apprenticeships.org.uk or call 08000 150 600.

For information on how to Switch on to Skills email switchontoskills@dstpn.co.uk