Chesterfield accountant first to benefit from Sheffield City Region initiative

Businesses and their employees are being encouraged by Chesterfield Borough Council to take advantage of a scheme to invest in training for staff.

Mitchells Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers on Saltergate has become the first business to sign up to Sheffield City Region’s Skills Bank and Chesterfield Borough Council is hoping they will be the first of many to do so.

The scheme offers businesses the opportunity to expand and get funding to pay for training required by their staff, while employees are able to get the skills needed to further their careers.

Under the scheme employers agree Skills Deals which set out how their business will grow by them providing employees with relevant skills and training. In return funding is provided to support training costs, paid for by the European Union Social Fund (ESF) and Sheffield City Region Growth Fund.

Andrew McDaid, partner at Mitchells, said: “The Skills Bank is a great opportunity to access funding to directly invest in staff development to both upskill and retain employees. It fits perfectly with Mitchells’ ethos to develop people within the company.

“The application process was very straightforward and we got through it with remarkable ease. Most importantly, the funders were keen to help. Moreover, going forward, we’ll be recommending it to our clients who want to grow and develop their business.”

Councillor John Burrows, Chesterfield Borough Council’s leader and cabinet member for regeneration, said: “It is because of schemes like this that we have applied to become a member of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority and the economic devolution deal that comes with it.

“As businesses grow and new jobs are created we need to ensure that local people have the skills needed to benefit from these better paid jobs so that the benefits of growth are felt in our local communities.”

Businesses can find out more about Skills Bank at the next Chesterfield Champions breakfast meeting on Wednesday 31 August organised by Destination Chesterfield or by visiting the Sheffield City Region Skills Bank website at www.sheffieldcityregionskillsbank.co.uk

Further information on how to sign up to be a Chesterfield Champion and find out about their programme of events is available by visiting www.chesterfield.co.uk/destination-chesterfield/champions