Ability to adapt adds up to 10 years of growth for training provider Stepping Stones

An ability to adapt has been the hallmark for Stepping Stones Education and Training which celebrates 10 years in business this spring.

The Lymedale Business Park based company has worked in almost all business sectors, from prisons to large corporate companies, and helped hundreds of young people to get into work.

“I guess you could say that we have practised what we preach,” said Managing Director Andy Talbot.  “We’ve adapted and honed our skills to survive in a competitive market and we support our customers along the same route.

“We started out primarily working with prisons and schools delivering BTEC qualifications to students and, in 2020, we are still delivering training services to support inmates to help to equip them for a brighter future. Our team now works with many companies both sourcing apprentices and up-skilling their staff.”

Stepping Stones is a family run business with three Directors, brother and sister Andy Talbot and Rebecca Miller and their mum, Annetta Talbot.

Annetta previously had a career running similar training services in the further education sector and used her expertise to found Stepping Stones.

The company has seen many changes, including rescuing over 100 training plans for staff after a large customer went into administration in 2013, threatening the future of Stepping Stones.

In 2017, Stepping Stones were awarded a direct contract as a training provider and, as a result, now provide direct services to companies. These include well-known local firms such as Woolcool, Best of British Beer, the Paragon Pub Group and John Belfield International.

Andy added: “2018 saw the introduction of Levy and non-Levy payments for employers. This saw us having to work to educate employers regarding the funding and eligibility requirement for apprenticeships and training of their staff. Some large employers were paying into the levy and not realising it and, therefore, not utilising it to benefit their companies and their staff. The style of apprenticeships has also been changing over the last couple of years with, for example, the introduction of End Point Assessments and changes to other qualifications. 2019 was a landmark year as we invested in buying our own offices at Brindley Court, on the Lymedale Business Park, and we received recognition from regulatory bodies Ofsted and Matrix after passing assessments. This means we are able to evolve further. We have continued to grow our business and have a team of staff who are fantastic, with three of them having been with us from day one.”

Main image Stepping Stones Directors, (l to r) Annetta Talbot, Andy Talbot, Beccy Miller.