Meet the team - Fiona Malpas, Business Skills Advisor

Fiona Malpas is a Business Skills Advisor working on the Workforce for the Future Programme. She supports businesses across the West of England, helping them build plans that tackle their skills challenges by identifying practical solutions to meet their needs. 

Tell us a bit about yourself, your role as a Business Skills Adviser and your career background? 

I’ve worked in Employability and Skills for several years, mainly within the private and third sectors. My previous roles have involved managing projects that support the most disadvantaged in society whilst helping businesses to become more inclusive in their policies and working practices. 

I am passionate about supporting young people and adults within society by raising career aspirations, helping remove barriers, and supporting new skills to increase employment opportunities.

I currently work on Workforce for The Future, a free programme of support for SME’s that provides 30 hours of tailored, in-depth support to help them plan and adapt for the future by identifying their current and future skills needs.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love the variety of the businesses I meet and how different they are, yet they encounter similar skills challenges. The skills landscape is vast and constantly evolving, which can be daunting for companies to navigate so I like being able to support workforce planning, offer suggestions and guide them on their journey.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?

So far, the biggest challenge has been the impact of COVID and restrictions on business. This has led to many companies changing direction, re-prioritising or putting plans on hold due to the uncertainty of what’s ahead.

What help and skills support are your team able to offer businesses as part of your role?

All businesses receive a tailored package of support bespoke to their needs. Some have clear ideas and plans, whilst others need more of a steer to help them identify current skills gaps or future training needs.

We review how the business attracts, recruits, and retains their current and future workforce, building plans to tackle their skills challenges and identifying practical solutions that meet their needs.

Why should employers be interested in workforce development planning?

Workforce planning is key to growing and sustaining any business. Any business growth plans need to be aligned with workforce planning to ensure they have the right people with the right skills at the right time to achieve their business goals.  With changes to the way we work and the introduction of more digital technology and automation, businesses need to think ahead in terms of future skills & their workforce needs.

What would be your top tips to anyone wanting to take on an apprentice/intern/work experience/kickstarter etc?

Ensure you create a good induction plan and provide them with a ‘buddy’ – remember this might be their first ever job! 
Keep it interesting and varied, build upon their skills, and introduce them to other business areas.
Have regular catchups and opportunities for them to feedback on how it’s going. Provide feedback on their performance; a little praise is a great motivator! 
Don’t forget apprenticeships are an excellent tool for upskilling existing staff too!

 Tell us about the most interesting business you have worked with?

One of the most exciting businesses I have been working with is a social enterprise called Inclusive Change that helps individuals and organisations achieve their potential and success in the workplace by tapping into the power of neurodiversity. Check out Lucy’s website to see all the fantastic projects currently being undertaken.

Business West is delivering Workforce for the Future in collaboration with other partners and the West of England Combined Authority.

For more information on Workforce for the Future, please visit the West of England Growth Hub. The Growth Hub is the West of England Combined Authority’s dedicated business support service which offers free, one-to-one advice and guidance for SMEs.

The West of England Workforce for the Future programme has received £4m of funding from the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England. The Department for Work and Pensions (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme. Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations. For more information visit: https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.