Sharpening Competitive Edge On Job

Newcastle Herald

Tuesday December 12, 2006

Jacqui Jones.

Hunter businesses are profiting from practical best-practice training, writes Jacqui Jones.

IN an increasingly competitive world, broadening your knowledge and increasing your career options is an attractive proposition.

But assuming that involves endless study and expense, on top of trying to earn a living, the proposition can be a complete turn-off.

From an employer's point of view, it might be difficult to give staff time away from the job, let alone contribute money to their study.

Getting ahead doesn't actually have to be so difficult, if you know where to look.

There are registered training organisations out there ready and willing to help people improve qualifications and do it on the job.

Carrington company Sensation Yachts is tapping in to the help on offer from the Wickham office of one of Australia's largest registered training organisations, TodayCorp.

TodayCorp works with businesses of all sizes and covers certificate courses in a wide range of areas including process manufacturing, food processing, competitive manufacturing, hospitality, retail and business administration and more specialised fields such as plastics and floristry.

There are programs for all ages and experience levels.

Participants are assessed on workplace-based competence, which means no exams and classes to attend, but the end result is a similar qualification to TAFE study.

Course trainers and assessors come to the workplace.

Sensation Yachts employees Mark Henderson, Ben Zikman and Lucas Moffat are all aged in their late twenties and have completed a competitive manufacturing course, on the job, through TodayCorp.

TodayCorp received funding from the Department of Education and Training to deliver the course.

For Henderson, Zikman and Moffat, doing the course has allowed them to upskill their trade expertise to learn more about the management side of the business.

The luxury boat builders rated the course as enjoyable because it is hands-on, and convenient because it can be completed on the job.

Sensation Yachts human resources and occupational health and safety manager Jessica Strang said the innovative manufacturing practices taught through the course helped bring best practice to the business and provided employees with beneficial new skills for supervision roles and involvement in business operations.

"As business changes, all businesses expect employees to have a bit of business sense," she said.

"We're just tapping into that."

Strang said completing the course on the job was an advantage.

"It's saving time," she said.

Employees could see the value of their course work because it related to what they were doing at work, Strang said.

"Generally if you put tradesmen in a room with a trainer they fall asleep.

"Whereas hands-on, they love it."

TodayCorp solutions manager Leah Allen said the organisation's courses provided participants with a nationally recognised qualification, which created opportunities for further study, promotions and new job opportunities.

Employees could work through the course at their own pace and the programs did not affect wage agreements.

For companies, having better skilled employees was always a bonus, she said.

"Generally if you put tradesmen in a room with a trainer they fall asleep. Whereas hands-on, they love it."

For more information go to www.todaycorp.com or phone Leah Allen 0439 517 448 or Bryony Preece 0412 085 560.

© 2006 Newcastle Herald

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