Research and policy documents for the construction sector stress the importance of continuous learning and generic soft skills if companies are to be competitive in a knowledge-based economy, attract and retain staff and meet customer demands. There are fewer examples of how this is actually achieved, particularly in SMEs where there are considerable barriers (both real and perceived) to accessing training. This paper illustrates how these have been overcome through the delivery of work-based, flexible training to companies, in part subsidised by the European Social Fund.

The paper describes the types of training chosen by companies, and the attributes of the courses and companies which make for a successful learning partnership.