Businesses in the West Midlands are set to receive a helping hand from an £800,000 fund aimed at promoting professional training and development.

The Director Development Programme delivers bespoke training to firms. The new fund, provided by the Learning Skills Council’s Train to Gain service, allows small and medium-sized businesses which employ between five and 249 people and turnover no more than £27 million a year to access the scheme. Qualifying firms will receive an initial grant of £500 for access to one-to-one coaching from specialist advisors.

The training scheme includes an intial on-site assessment and Personal Development Plan with the overall aim of increasing efficiency and productivity. Companies with fewer than 50 employees will be able to access a wage compensation scheme to offset the loss of staff time to off-site training.

Fred Bentley, head of skills for Business Link West Midlands, said: “The Director Development Programme offers a mix of informal and formal training. We have put together a high quality register of approved suppliers, who share a proven track record of working with small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

“If we can get people at the very top of SMEs realising the value of personal development then everyone at the company will benefit.”