BUSINESSES in south Wiltshire now have a unique chance to improve their performance through their staff, thanks to a new service.

Business Link Berkshire and Wiltshire launched the Workforce Development Advisory Service last month and wants as many firms as possible to take advantage of it.

Helena Allen, Business Link's workforce development manager, who is based in Salisbury, said the service had arisen out of research undertaken by the government and the formation of its National Workforce Development Strategy, delivered through Learning & Skills Councils.

"The aim is to improve productivity and performance in businesses and make work a better place to be for individuals," she said, "And, as a result, improve the local economy.

"The LSCs have contracted out delivery to Business Link and we work with businesses to make them aware of what is available through government funding and help to make life simpler for them."

She said the development service was for established small, private sector firms, which make up the majority of businesses in the south Wiltshire area.

"The biggest challenge for businesses is finding out what is out there everyone keeps giving you bits of paper and you are too busy to read them all.

"But we can talk about the things that bother them and point them in the right direction," she said.

"We want to upskill everybody and help them play their part in the community.

"We do this by putting firms in touch with the people who can come into their premises and work with them and that is free."

She said Business Link could offer a free workforce development review.

This involved sitting down and talking about their past performance, dreams and issues such as legislation, and how these impact on the workforce this takes about two hours.

"It may be a problem with recruiting people or training them, for example, and we can refer them to the right people."

"It's too easy to spend a lot of money on training and find it has not worked.

"Managers have to ask 'is it the right course for the person?' it must be for the benefit of the business."

She said that training was not just for the staff, but for business managers as well.

"Developing managers is another core requirement of the government's strategy," she said.

"And the Investors in People standard is one of the flagship tools 32,000 companies have done it.

"Then there's the £30 million Small Firms' Initiative firms can get a package worth £2,500.

"They must apply for it and, in return, they should have a business that can work very well.

"Every company that employs staff can benefit from workforce development and they should all be looking at it it's the Blue Badge guide for businesses."

She said companies should look at flexible working hours for staff who are parents of young children or carers of elderly relatives to ensure they were retained.

For more information about the service, call 0845 600 41 41.

Callers will be put in touch with a Workforce Development Advisory Service Co-ordinator.

Business Link is hoping to host a recruitment and retention event in September.