Case Study: Extec Integrated Systems

Electronics manufacturing company Extec have been benefiting from the government’s Train to Gain initiative through Highbury College.

Extec, based in Portchester, employ about 50 staff and work for international companies such as Airbus and others in the defence, satellite and space industries.

“Highbury College was able to provide training on our premises at times that suited the business,” says Extec Project Manager Dean Chapman.

“We had a fairly large group of students interested in taking the NVQ in IT, so we split them into two groups to minimise the impact.

“Staff that needed it were provided with extra support in literacy and numeracy.

“I would recommend Train to Gain to any company that wants to improve the skills of its workforce as cost effectively and flexibly as possible.”

Equipping your staff with the skills they need

Highbury College delivered two-hour sessions on a weekly basis on site. After four months staff took their NVQ tests to achieve the equivalent of a GCSE A-C pass.

Many of Extec’s staff had little experience of computers, so the NVQ sessions covered the basics of Microsoft Word, as well as more advanced skills like web design. Students chose their own modules to learn the right skills for their specific roles.

Staff can now put their new skills into practice in more creative ways. For example, Laser Operator Michael Brown enjoyed the web design aspects of the course. “I plan to develop these skills further and have been asked by the MD to update our company website. I have lots of ideas about how to make it more cutting edge.”

For more information email employers@highbury.ac.uk or telephone (023) 9238 3131.