BUSINESS leaders have been told about the importance of high quality staff training if they are to stay competitive within Exeter’s rapid economic expansion.

The message came at a high-profile breakfast seminar hosted by Exeter Centre of Vocational Excellence, or CoVE, a partnership between Exeter College and Education and Training Skills.

A delegation of Devon business representatives heard about the range of high-quality, flexible and bespoke staff training courses CoVE offers to help firms stay competitive.

The seminar took place on Thursday March 1st in the city’s newest conference centre, HSBC Bank’s commercial base at Stratus House, Exeter Business Park, which opened last month. Delegates heard a talk given by Cullompton-based leadership expert Vanessa Cobb entitled: “Taking Leading for Granted – The Cost of Complacency”. Nick James, HSBC’s area service manager also gave a speech on how the bank continually trains and develops its staff. Exeter CoVE manager Andy Brewer said: “Against the backdrop of Exeter’s rapid business expansion such as the Princessshay development, it is vital that local firms stay competitive with up-to-date, industry-led, high-quality training for staff. “We specialise in providing training for employers and employees at all levels in a wide range of business vocational areas.”

Business leaders attending included representatives from Business Link, Connexions, Devon & Exeter Law Society, the Federation of Small Businesses, Effings, Handle With Care, KMS Computing and Francis Clark. Several schools also took part to find out about money available from Exeter CoVE to fund Young Enterprise projects. Maria Hoyle, senior business development officer for HSBC in Exeter, said: “We aim to use our state-of-the-art facilities to benefit both our customers and the wider business community.”