The Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today urged businesses across Western Victoria to commit to the ongoing development of their workers by signing up to the Victorian Skills Pledge.
Ms Tierney said Victorian businesses had much to gain by continuing to invest in the development of their workforces.
“There’s no denying that many Victorian businesses are doing it tough and that the global economic slowdown is having an impact, but there’s also no denying the absolutely vital role that skills will play in economic recovery and the future success of our industries,” Ms Tierney said.
“By committing to training now, businesses are able to develop the skills they’ll need to capitalise on opportunities when the economic situation improves as well as ensuring we don’t face skills shortages a few years down the track.”
The Victorian Skills Pledge register is online and open to all Victorian businesses.
“Signing up offers a number of tangible benefits enabling participating businesses to market themselves as an organisation committed to providing additional skills for their staff”.
Benefits include:
• Have your business name and logo displayed on the Victorian Skills Pledge Register and receive a Victorian Skills Pledge Certificate for display at your workplace;
• Market your business as committed to upskilling staff in recruitment and retention of employees;
• Get support from the Victorian Government – free advice on business diagnosis, workforce development and access to publicly-funded training to upskill your staff. Victorian businesses employing up to 200 staff are eligible to use the free services under the Skills for Growth program to address the skills needs of their workforce;
• Receive regular news about important developments in the Victorian training system, and profiles of businesses succeeding through best practice performance in the upskilling of their workforce;
• Be eligible for the annual Victorian Training Awards which showcase and reward outstanding achievements and innovations in vocational education and training; and,
• Get linked with your Industry Training Advisory Body which can help you understand and use the skills system to get the best outcome for your business and staff.
The Victorian Skills Pledge was another way the Brumby Government was supporting businesses who invest in training to boost their competitiveness and create jobs.
On July 1, the Brumby Government’s Victorian Training Guarantee came into effect for all eligible Victorians enrolling in a Diploma level or above vocational education and training course at any Victorian TAFE or other registered training provider.
For more information about the Victorian Skills Pledge and to sign up, visit www.skills.vic.gov.au/industry/victorian-skills-pledge