Sheffield training academy goes online to beat COVID-19 crisis

The Source Skills Academy, a registered charity, says companies can use lockdown positively by accessing free training to boost their workers’ skills or qualifications and help avoid losing focused and feeling depressed.

The organisation closed its conference and training centre on March 23. But it immediately sprang up as an online trainer.

At least 70 courses, ranging from management skills to data protection to social care qualifications, are now being rolled out for those wanting to use lockdown productively.

For many SCR businesses the training is free - via funding from Skills Support for the Workforce, which is co-financed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and the European Social Fund.

Since the system went live on March 27, 89 learners have enrolled and are being supported by 12 tutors accessible 12 hours a day. A flood of enrolment requests are arriving each day.

Tricia Smith, CEO of The Source, said: “I am very proud of the team. We went fully online within four days, enabling us to protect our staff and develop our business model while helping companies across the region to advance, even in these difficult times.

“It is so important during this crisis to keep your staff motivated, focused and learning. Lockdown doesn’t have to lock workers out of learning and feeling valuable.”

Some 26 courses have been rolled out on the e-Assessor platform and a further 47 are available utilising VideoTile, an interactive video-based platform offering courses in a huge range of subjects. An ever-expanding package of courses is also available remotely through Google Classrooms and other VLEs.

“It was exciting to see the first online learners enter the platform and we are right alongside them,” said Danny Slinn, employment and skills project manager at The Source.

Those without internet access can receive learning packs by post and tutors will support them by phone. Of The Source’s 75 staff, 35 staff are still working on the delivery of education and training. Others are being furloughed wherever currently possible.

Contact Vernon Tolson at [email protected]

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