Skills For Business Festival - A Learning Experience

The second Skills For Business Festival was held at the Royal Victoria Hotel in Hastings this week. Over 100 people were present to sample a wide range of organisations committed to helping local businesses improve the skills of their employees. The exhibition was sponsored by the eBiz Centre and supported by Hastings College.

Bill Shearer, the eBiz Centre manager, was delighted with the response from local businesses and the genuine interest shown in skills development:

�Often businesses see conflicts between employee development and the needs of the business. But, I saw real and genuine support for improving the business through staff development”. There was also a lively lunchtime forum on current training issues and the development of the new College in the Town Centre, featuring John Shaw, the Regeneration Director of Sea Space and Sue Middlehurst, the Principal of Hastings College, amongst others. �

There were a number of well attended workshops held throughout the day. Information and guidance was available in specialist areas such as ICT, Retail, Leadership and Management, Marketing, Languages for Business, the Care Sector, Construction, Engineering, Apprenticeships and the Service Industries.

"We look forward to making this an annual event for the foreseeable future."� concluded Bill Shearer.

Wednesday, 24th October, 2007