Welsh recruitment company Smart Solutions has today (Wednesday 19th October) announced it will sell its training and development division to Coventry-based Sigma Group.
The new partnership will see Smart Solutions based in Newport, continuing to provide specialist training and work-based learning schemes delivered via the global manufacturing firm Sigma Group Holdings.
More News
Report: Nearly half of UK businesses are unprepared for workforce change
Charity specialising in TV production training scoops diversity award for talent and leadership
Union launches toolkit to tackle racism in the NHS
Employees still reluctant to approach bosses for flexible working, finds report
Smart Solutions CEO, Nathan Bowles, said: “We are confident that this is the right decision for Smart Solutions and one that will allow us to focus on our core business of providing flexible, well-managed staff solutions for clients across a wide range of industry sectors. Smart Solutions clients will benefit from the increased variety and coverage of training services that we will be able to offer through the new partnership with Sigma, which will also underpin our strategy of expanding the business into new industry sectors.
“We will be working closely with the team at Sigma to ensure that the transfer of staff and learners is managed as seamlessly as possible, and look forward to developing our working relationship over the months and years to come.”
The agreement means the 600 learners currently enrolled in classes with the Smart Development will be able to continue without interruption to their studies.
Brendan Hand, group CEO of Sigma Group Holdings, added: “Firstly I’d like to welcome the team from Smart Development to the Sigma Group. We look forward to understanding how we can help and support in key areas for our learners and customers.
“Sigma has been working on developing a strategic partnership with Smart Solutions for some months now and it was a natural fit to our business to integrate the Smart Development team, products, services and customers into our business. This will increase the level of service we can deliver to both our existing and new blue chip customer base.
“Sigma has an enviable track record of delivering high quality workforce academies as part of a re-engineering solution and will operate as a lead provider for the new levy next year. We will assist employers to recover the new levy costs by maximising their returns by increasing the skills and competency of their workforce, whilst also reducing their operating costs through LEAN implementation throughout their business.
“I think this is a positive outcome for everyone and I look forward to leading the team and developing a new and long lasting partnership with Nathan and the team at Smart Solutions.”
