A six month research project has been set in motion to help local engineering companies train their staff and improve sales and profit levels.

Mark Elders, 35, from Haworth, is conducting the research post which is being funded by Bradford & District Training & Enterprise Council.

The training and development project is the brainchild of Michael Parkinson, chairman of Airedale Springs and a member of the TEC board said: "To many employers the whole world of training assistance can appear to be a jungle of initiatives and bureaucracy seemingly designed to dissuade busy owners or managers from seeking help."

More than 15,000 people work in the engineering industry across the Bradford district, with more than 80 per cent of them employed at companies with less than 25 workers.

Mark said: "My aim is to contact as many people in the local engineering industry as possible to get an understanding of their training needs and establish ways to raise their awareness of the various options open to them.

"I will be looking at all aspects of training, from short courses to NVQs and Investors in People, and ensuring local companies get a proper understanding of the support available locally to help meet their training needs."

At the end of the research Mark will produce a guide outlining how local companies can access the full range of assistance for training including funding opportunities.

The project is being run with the assistance of BTAL UK, KADTAL, and the local Engineering Employers Federation, Yorkshire and Humberside Association.

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