90 percent off digital courses for local small businesses

nti, based at Old Broadcasting House, received an EU funding award of £196,800 from the Skills Enhancement Fund. This is being used to deliver the training courses, specifically aimed at creative and digital businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region, with 250 employees or fewer.

This funding provides a 90% discount on a selection of courses covering social media, Android programming, analytics, iOS development and iPhone and iPad app development for both experienced and non-experienced developers.

Case study

27-year old Parichay Parivesh set up his graphic design company, KG Creation, in January 2011. Currently based at the University's QU2 business incubator at Queen Square, Parichay runs the business on his own whilst studying for a PhD in Computing and Creative Technologies at Leeds Met. He has taken advantage of the discounts available at nti to attend courses in Android development, social media and Google Analytics.

Parichay commented: "I've been involved with nti for five years now and it has really helped me. Without the funding I wouldn't have been able to afford the courses which have improved my working practices, allowing me to give a better quality service to my clients. My company has been going for three years now and, through nti, I've been able to meet people and share experiences; and I've learnt a lot about the best way to do things. I'm now restructuring my website and services and am ready to concentrate on getting new clients. I may then hire someone so that I can build and expand the company."

Simon Baldwin, Head of University Enterprise Services at Leeds Metropolitan, explains: "The development of skills and training is critical to keep SMEs competitive and at the forefront of innovation in the digital and creative sector. nti Leeds has been providing high quality training keeping businesses and their employees up to date with the latest digital and creative technologies for the last ten years. These skills ensure our region's digital and creative SMEs remain competitive providing leading products and services in this rapidly changing environment."

The courses have been designed to help small to medium businesses, including social enterprises and charities, to keep costs down through developing new skills within the company rather than employing external agencies and allowing them to work more efficiently and move into new markets and opportunities.

nti Leeds was founded in 2003 and delivers training and events for professionals, mainly in the creative and digital sector. The training centre is approved by Apple, Adobe and APMG (Aim Academy), employing authorised trainers.

The Skills Enhancement Fund is a programme co-financed by the Skills Funding Agency through the European Social Fund and managed by Calderdale College, on behalf of West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges.

For more information about the courses available and to book on to them, please visit www.ntileeds.co.uk or email info@ntileeds.co.uk.