The Learning and Skills Council has set up the Train to Gain service, which is delivered by Business Link and the provider network in the South West, to meet the needs – offering a free service designed to help employers bring staff training right up to date.

Sherborne bakery Honeybuns has also been taking advantage of the Train to Gain service. It has been in business for nearly 10 years, increasing staff numbers from one to 26 – bringing new training needs.

Emma Goss-Custard, who set up Honeybuns said: “We’ve always carried out our own in-house training, including keeping up to date with the latest health and hygiene laws. But as we’ve grown I’ve found we need training in things like customer service, administration and IT.”

Honeybuns’ Skills broker, Tricia Burst, describes the process or determining their training needs: “Emma and I looked at what she was trying to achieve for the future and drew up an action plan. This included one new member of staff needing training in business administration, two others in customer service. I put them in touch with the training providers that best suited their needs. Most of the courses are funded by Train to Gain.