Langfields given a lift thanks to support from Fife College

A Dunfermline based manufacturer has been able to upskill their workforce thanks to support from Fife College.

The College has been working with Langfields, specialist fabricators of process plant for areas such as the Hydrogen, Waste to Energy, Pharmaceutical and Petrochemical industries, to support their business needs, providing tailored apprenticeships schemes, staff training and help to access funding.

The relationship between the College and Langfields started in 2017 with two students from Fife College studying for their National Certificate (NC) in Welding and Fabrication becoming Modern Apprentices in the Langfields’ Dunfermline Facility.

Langfields currently employ four Modern Apprentices from the College who are studying Welding and Fabrication while other members of staff are being trained in SVQ qualifications with support from the College’s business development team.

The College has also worked with Langfields to help them access new streams of funding for staff training, such as the Scottish Government’s Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF). This enabled the business to access fully funded Overhead Crane/Slinging and Forklift training for staff.

David Hind, Langfields’ Dunfermline Facility Manager, said:

“Fife College has not only helped arrange the specific courses for our apprentices but has also opened many doors in terms of funding for training which has been a huge help to the business.

“The training has helped us grow our own talent through our apprentice scheme which is vital for the business moving forward. The help provided in finding funding for training has really helped us upskill our workforce during COVID-19 which we would probably not have been able to do otherwise.

“The relationship we have built with the team at Fife College over the last few years has been great, and I trust them to look after the training requirements of our business.”

Miles Lagan, Head of Business Development at Fife College, said:

“We have been delighted to work with Langfields over the last few years to support their business needs.

“By working closely with businesses in this way we can help ensure local workplaces are equipped to improve levels of productivity and also adapt to the significant changes to working environments brought on by Covid.

“Helping businesses such as Langfields access the Flexible Development Workforce Fund, which represents a fantastic opportunity for all companies in Fife to upskill and retrain their staff, is a key part of the support we can offer.

“Whether it is looking to increase those productivity levels, or to plug a skills gap, the fund could be vital. We’d encourage any other business, from any sector, to get in touch with the College and we can discuss the delivery of a development programme that is tailored to the needs of their organisation.”