Business: Keeping business satisfied.

A RECENT survey found that 88 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) questioned would recommend learn direct scotland for business to other companies.

And 91per cent of respondents expressed satisfaction with the level of service received from the network of geographically-based training partners.

Derrick Ross of learn direct scotland for business, said: "We've always been aware of the value of our training partner service, and we now have the statistics to support this."

The learn direct scotland for business training partners operate regionally, linking with ke partners in the area to ensure they understand the issues and challenges facing local businesses.

Derrick added: "This also makes sure that the advice we give is bespoke to each individual company's circumstances."

Training partners conduct a business needs assessment to ascertain a company's priorities.

They will then source appropriate learning solutions in line with the company's business objectives, or to addres specific training issues they may have.

Derrick said: "If more in-depth analysis is required, training partners will signpost to, or liaise with, partner agencies."

Training partners can source appropriate courses using local and sector specific knowledge and learndirect scotland's national learning opportunities database (nLOD).

The nLOD contains information on more than 100,000 learning opportunities.

It brings together the widest-ever range of infor-mation on courses offered by Scotland's private training providers, learning centres, colleges and universities, as well as hundreds of online courses.

Once this information has been sourced, training partners will present a "training solutions"docu-ment.

This will include an outline training plan.

Through regular reviews and follow up activity training partners will continue to provide on-going support and advice to SMEs.

CAPTION(S):

AWARE: Derrick Ross