Trading Standards Service
If you are thinking of starting a new business the Trading Standards Service has an extensive range of business advice leaflets to help you understand and comply with the requirements of Trading Standards legislation. These leaflets are available on-line as well as advice sheets covering the following areas:
- animal health and welfare
- consumers/buyers rights (including selling methods)
- fair trading (including pricing)
- food
- safety
- weights and measures
If you require more detailed assistance, Trading Standards operate a Business Advice Service which is there to help you 'get it right first time'.
Contact: Southampton City Council, Trading Standards Service, Hollybrook House, 316 Winchester Road, Southampton, SO16 6TW, tel: 023 8051 1649, fax: 023 8070 2786, email: [email protected], website: www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/southampton
Training
Southampton ITeC can provide your business with the following training opportunities.
Commercial IT Training
Various training courses in Microsoft Software packages, the most widely used software in industry today. For most applications, courses are offered at three levels - introduction, intermediate and advanced. Courses include:
- Word
- Excel
- Access
- PowerPoint
- Outlook
- PhotoShop
- Project
Funding is available through the iTomorrow project for businesses with less than 250 employees. For current course costs tel: 023 8063 8966 or email: [email protected].
Free Computer Training and Action Planning for Local Businesses
Help your small business make more effective use of information and communication technologies through taking advantage of a new project called iTomorrow. Your business could:
- receive assistance in training your staff in applications such as Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, project management and graphics
- consultancy advice in networking, hardware and software requirements for your company
- assistance with developing your website
- making more effective use of electronic mail
The iTomorrow project team will work closely with you to identify and analyse your information technology needs. They can then determine whether the skills are available within the iTomorrow partnership or whether to link you with other local training providers or consultancies to best meet your business needs. If your organisation has less than 250 employees then you will qualify for funding of up to �350 towards the cost of consultancy or training.
If you would like to find out more contact Southampton ITeC on 023 8082 1861 or visit the website www.sitec.org.uk.
Employers: Do you need help with
- office duties/accounts
- web/graphic design
- installing/using software
- supporting network users
- PC hardware maintenance
If you do, then why not consider taking on a young person from the modern apprenticeship scheme. Southampton ITeC have candidates who possess the skills required to assist with your IT, administration and accounting needs. They are currently looking for companies who can offer a young person the opportunity to gain valuable work-based experience and the chance of a full-time job.
For further information and advice contact Southampton ITeC, tel: 023 8082 1861 or visit the website www.sitec.org.uk.
Southampton City Training can also help your business acquire skilled, qualified and motivated employees. Employing a modern apprentice enables companies to take on a young person, training towards a nationally and professionally recognised qualification. Whilst the employer contributes valuable training and supervision in the workplace, Southampton City Training pays for and monitors the employees qualification and training.
Employers in Southampton can also benefit from the work-based learning scheme for adults. Training can be tailored to meet business needs and flexible training and employment packages can be designed for particular vocational areas. By providing opportunities for Southampton City Training clients to bring their skills up to date in work experience placements, businesses may also be eligible for substantial government subsidies, should they decide to employ the individual after a trial period. For further information contact Southampton City Training:
Adult Team - Saxon Gate, Unit Z, Back of the Walls, Southampton, SO14 4HA, tel: 023 8038 5222.
Youth Team - The Friends Provident St Mary's Football Stadium, Britannia Road, Southampton, SO14 5FP, tel: 023 8022 9222, or visit the website www.sotonct.co.uk.
The Outer Shirley Regeneration Programme
This programme has been running since 2001 and is working to improve the quality of life for people living in the Outer Shirley area, that is Millbrook, Redbridge, Coxford, Maybush and Shirley Warren.
It is envisaged that a number of schemes will be introduced to help businesses in some of these areas. For further information contact the Outer Shirley Regeneration office tel: 023 8091 5422, or visit the website www.southampton.gov.uk/CommunityRegeneration/OurProgrammes/OuterShirley.
Help for employers to recruit from disadvantaged groups
A new project to help disadvantaged people get jobs, by encouraging local employers to recruit a more diverse workforce, is now under way.
The Diversity Works Partnership can help you recruit and retain the staff you need to carry out your business effectively in the following ways:
By providing a resources pack, highlighting good practice and signposting you to local services that assist companies to employ the right people. The pack contains advice on flexible working, advertising and interviewing, equal opportunities legislation and contact details of organisations that can provide appropriate employment advice.
Arrangements can be made for a personnel specialist from a large local business(Ford, HSBC, Ordnance Survey and others have all signed up to help for free)to visit you to offer the benefits of their experience and advise you on good employment practice, suitable for your company. They will not be acting as consultants but to share good ideas and act as "champions" of good practice.
Providing free training places on diversity issues using a variety of different training methods including in-house.
This is a free service, funded by the European Social Fund, Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils and other partners.
For further information please contact: Kathryn Rankin, Training and Employment Initiatives, Southampton City Council on 023 8083 2396
City Limits Employment - strengthen your workforce
City Limits Employment works with adults who have a severe learning disability, enabling them to find and maintain suitable paid employment.
They provide a free service and aim to find a suitable employee for your business from amongst their clients by carefully job matching against the clients' chosen vocation and their capabilities.
City Limits work alongside their clients for as long as necessary, providing full on the job training. They can provide additional training(e.g.if the job changes)at any time if required. They also offer guidance, support and training to your staff throughout the whole process.
Arrangements can be made for clients to work for a short period in your business(work trials). This way you can judge their success before making any decisions.
City Limits are always available to provide further support, answer any questions and help address any problems, as well as holding regular reviews.
The philosophy of supported employment is that everyone can work productively if the right help is given at the right time.
For further information contact:
City Limits Employment,
340b Shirley Road,
Shirley,
Southampton,
SO15 3HJ.
Tel/Fax 023 8051 2238