The Woodworks Project

All the information below also applies to business start-ups.

Woodworks from the Silvanus Trust, in conjunction with SWRDA, provides a wage subsidy and training assistance for wood-producing/wood-using businesses looking for new staff.

Many employers want to take on new staff but are worried about the costs of getting new recruits “up to speed”. This is where Woodworks can help.

Working in partnership with you The Woodworks Project can:

• Design a tailor-made skills training package for new employees - freeing up time or personnel for business development
• Provide essential training for employees at reduced rates
• Help cover the cost of priority training, for instance, First Aid and chainsaw certificates
• Administer a wage subsidy payable to your business to help offset the costs of training a new employee
• Help build the capacity of your business by providing business support, marketing assistance and industry knowledge
• Help the new employee start work by funding the purchase of tools or protective clothing and equipment.

There is a number of eligibility criteria you have to satisfy.

• Your new employee is economically inactive (not working before starting with you)
• The job offer is permanent (subject to probation)
• You operate an Equal Opportunities Policy
• You are based in the South West of England.

Interested ?

Then contact us explaining your plans for your business. A Project Officer will make an appointment to visit you to discuss your work.

The Application process

If the Project Officer approves your outline plans at the initial meeting we will need:

A formal business plan:

• What does your business do? This does not need to be long.
• What is your experience?
• What is your projected work for the next 6 months?

A marketing analysis :

• What are your existing markets?
• What is demand for your product and/or services?
• What is the competition?

If you are taking on an employee we will need:

A written statement clarifying the new employee’s job. This must include:

• a brief job description
• hours of work
• details of pay
• skills experience needed.
• any other useful information!
• A copy of your employer’s liability insurance

Your Project Officer is available to help you through the application process, although we expect you to do your own information-gathering and basic market research.

What are my chances of success?

Our aim is to help create long-term new jobs. Grants will be awarded on merit not on a “first come first served” basis. This is a discretionary grant with a limited number of places and we look for businesses with a genuine commitment to success.

[ Download or view document on taking on a new employee ] - 80 KB
[ Download or view a blank business plan format ] - 300KB

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Kyl Cober Parc, Stoke Climsland, Callington, Cornwall, PL17 8PH
T: 01579 372100, F: 01579 372101, E: [ info@silvanus.org.uk ]