What to expect from a meeting with a Business Skills Advisor

Fiona Malpas is a Business Skills Advisor at Business West, currently helping to deliver the Workforce for the Future programme. Here, Fiona explains what businesses can expect when they start working with the team on workforce development planning, staff development and future skills. 

"The initial meeting with you is the first step of the journey; we will look at your current skills challenges, future growth plans and development needs to understand your short and long-term goals. We don't ask for anything too complicated, beginning by getting to know your business and current workforce, before moving on to understand your future plans and skills needs.

Each business has a unique set of goals and challenges, from growth into new markets, scaling up their workforce or adapting to new technology. All these changes typically involve people, either through introducing new people and skills or by developing and upskilling staff within the business. As Business Skills Advisors, we support businesses to align their business goals with actionable people plans that look at how they attract, recruit, develop, and retain their workforce.

For example, a micro business might be recruiting for the first time and need support with attraction strategies and creating job descriptions, including help accessing young talent pathways such as Internships, Apprenticeships, or T-Level placements. A larger business might want an external perspective to identify skills gaps, critical roles and succession plans that will help develop and retain their workforce.

Navigating the skills landscape can be challenging and time-consuming. The advisor is there to take the lead and identify potential opportunities, linking with regional delivery partners that enable the business to learn and grow. We'll work with you at your pace and timescale, meeting with you periodically to check progress, identify any new challenges and discuss skills opportunities that might benefit your business.

Throughout the journey, the advisor will build a bespoke Workforce Development Plan that pulls together all the skills, opportunities, and actions, bringing your people plans to life. This will ensure you have the right people, with the right skills, at the right time to grow your business and achieve your goals."

If you think a meeting with a Business Skills Advisor would benefit your business, please get in touch via skills@businesswest.co.uk.

You can find out more about Workforce Development Planning here.

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

Workforce for the Future provides fully funded tailored, in-depth support for SMEs across the West of England to help ensure they have the access to the training and support that they need to thrive. Businesses will receive support from our expert partners to ensure they can identify ongoing skills needs, attract and retain talented people, access the right training and development, and invest in their current and future workforce.

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.

Workforce for the Future is an £8m programme – co-funded by the West of England Combined Authority and the European Social Fund (ESF). The programme has received £4m of funding from the ESF as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England.

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