SINCE it was launched in January, 2009, an initiative that supports training for business leaders and managers in the North West has worked with 45 learners in the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald area, helping them access £28,598 towards the cost of training.

The Train to Gain: Leadership and Management Advisory Service helps equip managers with the skills to become more effective leaders, enabling them to take the business forward with increased confidence. Smart and effective leadership supported by a strong management team can unleash the potential of an organisation and its employees, which is more important than ever in the current economic climate.

The service, which is managed by Business Link Northwest, offers advice and guidance about the type of training that could be beneficial to senior managers within a company. Through the service, businesses might be able to access funding from the Northwest Regional Development Agency and the Skills Funding Agency.

Subject to eligibility, a maximum of £1,000 per individual is available for up to three managers per organisation. The grant can be used for coaching, mentoring and some non-qualification based courses, as well as formal training. The funding may require a financial contribution from the employer.

For example, for a manager to receive the maximum £1,000 grant, the employer must contribute £500 towards the total of the £1,500 training costs.

Donna Edwards, operations director at Business Link Northwest, said: “This service will equip people with the skills to become more effective leaders. It will build managers’ confidence, enhance problem-solving capabilities and improve communication and team-working skills. It offers specialist support from our Leadership and Management Team who will signpost businesses to the right training and development to meet their needs.

“One of the real strengths of the service is that it is completely flexible. Businesses can use the funding to pinpoint training that really meets their company and individual needs and that’s something we felt strongly about when we designed the Leadership and Management Advisory Service. To date, participants have undertaken a wide spectrum of training from mentoring and coaching to marketing and business management.”

In addition to its leadership and management advisers, Business Link Northwest also has a team of skills advisers. They can work with companies to identify the training requirements of all employees and signpost the business to appropriate training and any subsidies they may be eligible for.

For more information about Business Link Northwest or the Train to Gain: Leadership and Management Advisory Service, visitwww.businesslink.gov.uknorthwest, e-mail advisory

businesslinknw.co.uk or call 0845 00 66 888.