States offer grants to plug skills gaps

Wednesday 04 July 2018

Businesses are being offered grants to train Jersey people using money from a £300,000 fund raised from a new levy on employing non-local workers.

The States of Jersey hope that the initiative will help plug skills gaps in sectors struggling with a shortage of qualified local staff.

This comes in additions to courses which have seen over 300 delegates from a range of businesses learn about leadership and management, customer service, IT and project management.

A £50 fee was introduced last year for businesses employing ‘’Registered’’ (non-local) employees to fund training and initiatives to reduce long term skills shortages and the reliance on non-local labour. Businesses pay £50 every November for each Registered permission they hold.

Connétable Christopher Taylor, Assistant Chief Minister, said: “Growing, maintaining and strengthening local skills is very important for the Island and I’m really pleased to support this important fund. This is a great opportunity for industry bodies or equivalents to apply for this funding to support new skills training or initiatives they feel would benefit a range of businesses in their sector. 

“We hope there will be a good uptake. I know that the business licensing team is already working closely with industry bodies and Skills Jersey to identify specific skills shortages. The Business Licencing team will ensure that each initiative receiving funding is working towards achievable outcomes and will review it with the applicant to ensure it has made a genuine impact.”