Black Country's SDR helps local firms show off their skills

An established Black Country training scheme is branching out into the manufacturing sector with an offer of supported places for local businesses.

moreAn established Black Country training scheme is branching out into the manufacturing sector with an offer of supported places for local businesses.

Skills Development Recognition, which provides a comprehensive pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ) system to help companies win more business, has teamed up with the Manufacturing Advisory Service.

Black Country manufacturers can use the Skills Development Recognition (SDR) programme to get full training in compiling a top quality PQQ, complete with all supporting documents.

A professional audit provides either 'SDR Assessed' status or highlights any gaps.

MAS will support eligible West Midlands manufacturing companies with a grant of £250.

Director of SDR, David Rock, explained the extra benefits, saying, "Once the PQQ is complete, we host all of the data on our secure servers so members have access 24 hours a day, seven days a week, anywhere in the world."

"Built-in systems also alert members whenever a document or a certificate is due to expire," added Mr Rock.

Dozens of local suppliers have already completed SDR's Construction Commitments Aware and Waste, Recycling and Environmental Management courses.

Interserve, VINCI Construction, Laing O'Rourke and Sandwell Council have all subsidised places in order to 'upskill' the area's supply chain.

Balfour Beatty's Lisa Beaman described SDR as "an excellent and worthwhile investment", while Mark Simpson of Morgan Sindall said, "I strongly recommend you develop and upskill your business by joining this scheme".

Completed PQQs meet or exceed PAS91:2010 standards, so SDR Assessed companies have everything they need to pitch for – and win – contracts from big businesses.

"We're delighted that our programme is backed by the Manufacturing Advisory Service, sponsored by The Accord Group and supported by Hadley Industries too," said Mr Rock. "SDR Assessed status is also displayed on the network of findit websites, such as finditinsandwell and finditinwolverhampton."

The first SDR course for Black Country manufacturers, led by procurement expert Roy Casey of Success Train Ltd, takes place over two days on Wednesday, September 5 and Wednesday, September 19.

Places are sponsored by The Accord Group – which reduces the usual £650 cost to £500, with a further £250 reclaimable through MAS on completion – and are available to book now.

Full details are available at www.sdruk.co.uk or on 01384 563090.