For employers
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For employers
Funding for developing leadership and management skills
Through the Skills South East Leadership and Management Programme 
owner managers and company directors with 5 to 250 staff can apply for funding of up to £1,000 to help develop business leadership skills.
What universities can do for you
Free business and management esources from the Open University
The OpenLearn programme has dozens of free downloadable resources relating to various aspects of business and management. Many require just a few hours of study and are ideal for continuing professional development.
Flexible and bespoke provision
All universities and colleges provide services to business which include flexible and bespoke courses designed to meet your exact needs as well as work-related Foundation degrees. In addition, knowledge transfer partnerships (KTPs) are supported by government funding and can provide you with access to university experts and a contribution towards the cost of a full-time graduate to help you innovate. Go to the business facing pages of your local university's website for more information - to find providers, go to study choices and select the county you need. Local provision is constantly being updated as institutions adapt their provision to suit the workplace. Contact Train to Gain to talk to a skills adviser and get impartial, one-to-one advice.
Local internships
The graduate internship programme brings graduates into small and medium sized companied for up to six months. They are available across the South East and include the Universities of Brighton and Sussex and the GraduateOn programme at Chichester. For general information see our information sheets on internships and internships funding.
Benefits of higher education and general advice
This information has been developed for employers but will also be of use to employees who wish to discuss their continuing professional development with their employer, perhaps at an appraisal interview:
- Supporting learners at work
- How will my organisation benefit?
- What is the cost of work based learning?
- Questions to ask about higher education
- Specialist support: encouraging diversity
- Vocational education in the South East
Develop your workforce has been produced for employers in Berks, Bucks, Oxon and Surrey but has some useful basic information for all.
2012 Opportunities
Go to 2012 Olympics and Paralympics to find out what's going on in the South East. Work 2012 has links to opportunities to tender for London 2012 contracts.
World skills
Do you know about WorldSkills UK competitions? These competitions are delivered each year across the UK for young people and adults. They showcase excellence to help lift standards of training and performance. The main sectors covered are Built environment, Cultural & creative arts, Engineering, Information technology & business administration and Professional, social, public & hospitality services. This is of interest to trainers/tutors, training providers, employers and their students and employees.
National advice
unionlearn Learning and Careers Advice Line - information on over 900,000 courses at a range of levels, delivered by over 10,000 further education providers nationally.
Find online short and advanced business courses at Guardian jobs.
