Lantra set to launch new business tool
Supporting skills and boosting productivity in the land-based and environmental industries has always been a key priority for Sector Skills Council Lantra. The organisation is launching a brand new Business Centre website this year, which assimilates a range of resources designed to help businesses flourish and grow.
The Business Centre contains a variety of tools including a Business Performance Checklist, Health and Safety List, Business Planning and Performance Analysis Templates, advertising job opportunities, Work Experience Guides and important financial guidelines.
Through using these resources businesses can reap a host of benefits including improved staff training and performance management, increased staff motivation, better financial understanding and more effective heath and safety policies.
Unlike other online web solutions, Lantra's Business Centre provides information and guidance specific to industries in the land-based and environmental sector, such as agriculture, forestry, veterinary science and animal care.
Leadership and management training also forms a key part of the Business Centre. With its vast experience of supporting businesses in the sector, Lantra recognises the importance of training and development and has created a suite of OfQual-approved Leadership and Management qualifications.
In addition, visitors to the site can also benefit from an e-learning platform where they can access a diverse range of courses, such as food safety and health and safety. E-learning provides a practical, flexible and convenient method of learning, designed to fit around learners' needs and availability.
Lantra is currently looking for expressions of interest from suitably qualified training providers to deliver the suite of Leadership and management qualifications.
Lantra's Skills Manager, a tool for recording skills and training needs, also forms a key part of the Business Centre. Skills Manager is based on the National Occupational Standards (NOS), so it outlines the skills required for employees' roles. Skills Manager allows employers to record and update employees' skills, training and qualifications in one central location.
It allows for the identification of training and skills needs to help set objectives, highlight skills gaps and produce reports about employees' achievements.
All environmental and land-based industry approved job roles are stored in the software, so that skills can be developed against specific roles.
David Seffen, Lantra's Director for Northern Ireland, explains some of the benefits of the Business Centre: "We are delighted to offer this new website which will provide vital business-ready tools and information to support skills and development.
Visitors to the Lantra Business Centre will benefit from access to high quality training providers, improved business efficiency, productivity and profitability.
The land-based and environmental industries will require more than 242,000 new entrants over the next decade, so it's vital that employee skills, training and development are prioritised if the sector is to flourish."