Vaughn Wiles had worked for many years in technical IT roles for a variety of large organisations. He decided he wanted a change of direction, which led to not only setting up his own business but also learning a whole new set of technical skills.

Vaughn wanted to start up in the renewable technology sector, which offered him an even greater challenge. He already had much of his thinking in place, but talked to a Business Link Adviser to help formalise his planning. Vaughn aims to offer customers a full in-depth technology review, help select which renewables are right for them, and then install.  To do this he needed to develop a wide range of skills but was also realistic that the renewables market is still a developing sector and it would take time to build up a customer base.

The Environmental Skills for South East Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) project aims to support the re-skilling and up-skilling of the SME workforce at NVQ Level 3 and above in the Environmental Technology and related BioScience Technology Sectors. Business Support Kent aims to increase the availability and uptake of skills modules which meet the SMEs specific skills needs across the SEEDA region in order to increase their skills base.

Vaughn’s Business Link Adviser helped him create an action plan to move his business forward. Vaughn says; “The action plan was great, putting in dates of when we’d agreed I needed to achieve business milestones really focuses the mind….otherwise I’d just drift along; it does help give focus”. 

Business Link were able to recommend the new short accredited business courses managed by Enviroskills for a wide range of renewable technologies. As part of his business planning he decided to qualify first as a plumber which would form the basis of his installation work but would also offer immediate income.

“I’ve got my City and Guilds Plumbing Level 2 now and am working towards Level 3” said Vaughn “and I’ve just been on the Enviroskills Unvented Hot Water course”.  All the courses are available at a subsidised rate for small and medium sized companies based in the South East, and Vaughn is just about to go for another new skill – Solar Thermal!