Business and Employee Support - Testimonials from our Partners

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“The FWDF has proven to be very valuable to us as we have been able to access training and development for our staff where we had previously been unable to. One of the main outcomes has been an increase in levels of staff confidence which has had a very positive impact on the business. This investment in staff enabled us to fill some promotional vacancies internally, instead of externally which raises moral and identifies routes for progression for our work force.”

Sodexo

“Sodexo as a levy paying employer in Scotland has utilised the Scottish Flexible Working Development Fund over the past few years. This has helped to address priority skills gaps within our teams. It has allowed us as a company to work and collaborate with UHI Perth to produce bespoke training modules required to give our employees the tools to upskill and to help with their personal development. This also motivates and engages our existing teams by providing them with high quality training required for their future career development. Working in collaboration, Sodexo has been able to enhance the skills required for 25 of our front line managers to date on a qualified CMI Course, alongside, equipping 40 chefs to date with new skills after attending various workshops covering topics including the art of using chocolate and the science of bread making. We will continue to use the FWDF to engage our teams and enhance their skills into the future.”

Auto Services Perth Ltd

“It’s proved a massive asset to my business. It brings a different dynamic, a different outlook on life, and it helps grow my business as well.” - Roddy Davie, General Manager at Auto Services Perth Ltd.

W A McGarrie & Son Ltd

“We’ve been working with UHI Perth for a number of years now. It’s a great system - they've helped us bring on a lot of young apprentices and it’s a great way of working. The help we get from UHI Perth, it’s great.” - Colin Herd, Managing Director

Glencairn House Care Home

“I think businesses should buy in to it because it’s only going to benefit the business, like it’s benefited us.” - Susan Hewitt, Manager at Glencairn House Care Home

Singing Kettle Cafe

After leaving college, Ryan went straight into work as a chef and was offered a Modern Apprenticeship. After completing his MA through the Royal Hotel in Blairgowrie, he worked two jobs before becoming the proud owner of The Singing Kettle cafe in Alyth.

“I would say it gives you a lot more skills and abilities within the workplace and you would learn a lot more doing the Modern Apprenticeship in the real world. I would definitely recommend it to anybody.”

Louisa Clements Professional Haircare

Louisa Clements commented on the value a Modern Apprentice can have in a hairdressing salon: “A hairdressing salon is quite a busy place, fast working environment. We, as stylists, need to keep to a time and having an assistant with us and helping us through, we can stick to that time and keep the place running how it should run. And it’s good when you see them growing, and they can do that little bit more, so you can do more. So, I think that is how we benefit from it as a hairdressers.”

Glenshee Glamping

“We get to train someone to fit our business model, which is great. It’s helped with flexibility and it’s nice to actually mentor someone into knowing what we do. Glenshee Glamping as a business finds it really important to take on board things like apprenticeships. Tourism is huge in rural Scotland, and we need to retain staff and people here, so working with them to meet their needs as well. What do they want to be doing in their jobs? What skills do they want to be learning? Can we help them with that? This means that we retain young people working in the Scottish economy.” - Helena Cole, Owner and Director of Glenshee Glamping.