The National Skills Academy for Manufacturing is taking forward a pilot project carried out by SEMTA and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) with 14 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the West Midlands.

The SMEs in the pilot programme anticipate a total increase in profitability of more than £1.3 million. Rolling this sort of programme out to engineering companies across the UK could achieve profitability gains in excess of £42 million and 2,400 NVQ Level 2 trained employees.

The pilot linked employee training in business improvement techniques to process and operational changes in increasing productivity and bringing about sustainable bottom-line benefits through the development of a continuous improvement culture.

Key elements in the exercise were the training of individuals from colleges, training providers  and other bodies to act as productivity and competitiveness analysts and the training of college staff in the delivery and assessment of the Level 2 NVQ and VRQ in Business-Improvement Techniques.

Colleges that are now part of the National Skills Academy for Manufacturing delivery network (Dudley College of Technology, Sutton Coldfield College, Telford College of Arts and Technology and Warwickshire College) took part in the pilot.

With a central hub in Birmingham and spokes in the regions and nations, the Academy has started operating in the West Midlands, East Midlands and North East. It will extend to all English regions by Autumn 2007 and to the UK nations by April 2008. National Skills Academies have been established for the retail, manufacturing, construction, and financial services sectors. An Academy for the food and drink sector is in development.

www.manufacturing. nsacademy.co.uk