Masterclasses launched to support West Midlands manufacturers

Manufacturers in the West Midlands can tap into a 12-week programme of expert classes to help upskill their workforce and bounce back from Covid-19.

In-Comm Training, which works with more than 250 companies on delivering apprenticeships, training and consultancy, has secured funding from the European Social Fund (ESF) to pull together a comprehensive business masterclass series of workshops.

Firms across the region can sign up for the 12 sessions starting on October 7^th, giving a minimum of one employee the chance to benefit from one hour courses in intellectual property, cyber crime, international trade for beginners and redundancy support to cope with the pandemic.

Experts from Eleven10Creative and Cucumber PR have also been recruited to support companies to boost sales, including gaining insights into digital marketing and ‘creating the headlines’ through a proactive media campaign.

Bekki Phillips, managing director of In-Comm Training, said: “Businesses need all the help they can get to overcome the pandemic and try to find new sales to replace lost volumes.

“This is why we have come together with a number of partners to create a Masterclass series of workshops featuring some of the most experienced and brightest minds in the region. Each topic has been selected as a pain point or an opportunity and our experts will give participants the chance to gain an initial taster in these key areas.”

She continued: “We’ve signed up FBC Manby Bowdler, James Howard of Red Orchid, HK Technologies, MET Recruitment, Crowe, NatWest and Wellmeadow Consulting and, if this wasn’t enough, all of this knowledge is free of charge for companies thanks to the ESF funding.”

If firms want to take part in the business masterclass series, they have to sign-up for all 12 sessions, with at least one member of staff attending the virtual workshops, which will be delivered by Zoom.

Single sessions can be accessed, but these will be subject to a £15+vat per person charge.

In-Comm www.in-comm.co.uk

Full list of business masterclass series workshops

October 14^th: Crisis Compliance – James Howard (Red Orchid)

October 21^st: ‘Creating the Headlines’ – Russ Cockburn (Cucumber PR)

October 28^th: Cyber Crime & Fraud Awareness – TeeJay Nichols (NatWest/RBS)

November 4^th: Redundancy Support Post Covid-19 – Julia Fitzsimmons (FBC Manby Bowdler)

November 11^th: Strategic Planning & Finance Management – Jonathan Dudley (Crowe)

November 18^th: Bored or Board Meetings – Dave Parry (Wellmeadow Consulting)

November 25^th: Additive Manufacturing – Lee Adamson (HK Technologies)

December 2^nd: Digital Marketing – Steve Watson (Eleven10Creative)

December 9^th: International Trade for Beginners – Norman Rikuneko (Shropshire Chamber of Commerce)

December 16^th: Recruit & Retain the Best Talent for Your Business In Light Of The New Normal – Hannah Mountford (MET Recruitment)

December 23^rd: Organisational Restructure & Training Opportunities Post Covid-19 – Bekki Phillips (In-Comm Training)