Access to skills is always a major talking point for Peterborough businesses. Opportunity Peterborough is here to help you to invest in your current workforce, access new talent and contribute to the development of your future workforce.

The Skills Service

At Opportunity Peterborough we believe that having appropriately skilled staff that meet the requirements of local businesses is key to the success of the local economy. We created The Skills Service to drive forward the city’s skills agenda by listening to business needs and collaborating with local education providers to upskill the future workforce.

The Skills Service provides a brokerage role between business, education and training providers in Peterborough, Fenland, Rutland, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.

Funded by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and delivered by Opportunity Peterborough, the service boosts young people’s aspirations and attainment by engaging with employers, schools and colleges to deliver work-related activities such as careers fairs, enterprise challenges, employability workshops and work experience placements.

Find out how The Skills Service can help you grow your business here.

To pledge your company’s support for The Skills Service, why not become a Skills Champion?

A Skills Champion can be any employee who is interested in working with young people on a wide range of activities and events to help them better understand the world of work and future employment opportunities. Find out more about what’s involved in becoming a Skills Champion here.

Senior leadership can also consider becoming part of the Enterprise Adviser Network to support strategic decision making by Careers Leads in schools and encouraging their network of contacts to support careers education activities to motivate and inspire the future workforce. To find out more click here.

Apprenticeships

There has never been a better time to consider taking on an Apprentice. The government has committed to creating an additional 3 million apprenticeship start in England by 2020, funded by the Apprenticeship Levy – payable by employers with a paybill over £3 million. is  Apprenticeships are thriving and having a positive impact on the wider economy.

Benefits to businesses

• Apprenticeships can help businesses across all sectors by offering a route to harness fresh new talent, re-skill existing staff and tackle skill shortages.
• They ensure that your workforce has the practical skills and qualifications your organisation needs now and in the future, reducing training and recruitment costs.
• The mixture of on and off the job training ensures they learn the skills that work best for your business and you can tailor the training to your needs.
• They offer mentoring opportunities for your existing staff.

For more information contact Opportunity Peterborough’s Skills Service for free, impartial guidance.

University Centre Peterborough

University Centre Peterborough (UCP) was formed in 2007 as a joint venture between Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and Peterborough Regional College (PRC). It opened its purpose built £9 million facility in November 2009 on the campus of PRC from where it delivers degree level courses and higher education qualifications.

University Centre Peterborough represents the single most important development in providing Higher Education in Peterborough’s history. The University Centre offers a broad portfolio of courses covering a range of subject areas and is rapidly developing specialisms in a number of key areas.

To find out more about the facilities and courses on offer at University Centre Peterborough, please visit: www.ucp.ac.uk

Greater Peterborough University Technical College

The Greater Peterborough UTC (GPUTC) is an exciting new University Technical College based in the centre of Peterborough with engineering and the built environment at its heart. The facility opened in September 2016 and the new school is the first choice for the city’s engineers, designers, architects and construction specialists of the future.

Students can join GPUTC in year 10 or year 12 and enjoy learning in the new £12 million state-of -the-art building, using industry leading-facilities and equipment. Find out more about the facilities and courses on offer at www.gputc.com

Training and development

Investing in your existing workforce is one of the most effective ways of improving your business prospects. Look after your employees, nurture their ambitions and they will repay you in hard work, innovative new ideas and loyalty.

To discuss your training and development requirements contact Opportunity Peterborough.

Recruitment

Looking to take on more staff? Whether you want to post your vacancy on our jobs page, access graduates and students, find a suitable agency or find out more about working with people with disabilities, ex-service personnel or ex-offenders, Opportunity Peterborough can help.

For more information about any of the areas mentioned above, or for guidance on which professional service providers are best able to meet your requirements, contact us.