ASTRAK GROUP LIMITED enhances workforce development and career pathways through strategic partnerships and dedicated training initiatives.

Astrak Group Limited, a Kirkcaldy-based company with over 100 employees, has significantly enhanced its workforce development and career pathways since 2019 through strategic partnerships and dedicated training initiatives. Kathryn Hill, an Employer Engagement Executive from Skills Development Scotland (SDS), noted Astrak's proactive communication of challenges, which enables effective external support [4]Pro.

Astrak initiated contact with SDS's Skills for Growth service in 2019, becoming one of Hill's first customers [2]Pro. This led to a comprehensive plan to help Astrak's workforce "reach their full potential" [1]Pro. Key focus areas included improving communication and creating personal development plans (PDPs) [1]Pro.

A significant action taken by Astrak, after working with SDS, was hiring a dedicated coordinator to manage workforce development [2]Pro. This role, likely established around 2022, ensures a structured approach to employee growth [2]Pro. SDS also funded a two-day enhancement program with The Leadership Factory around 2022 to coach and support the training coordinator in developing PDPs [2]Pro. These PDPs ensure "every person has a clear career path" and involve semi-annual meetings between employees and trainers to discuss development, goals, and ideas [1]Pro[2]Pro.

Since 2019, Astrak has actively engaged in numerous schemes, including Modern Apprenticeships and Graduate Apprenticeships, demonstrating a commitment to structured learning and career opportunities, particularly for young people [1]Pro[2]Pro. Four team members have joined Astrak directly from university as a result [2]Pro[4]Pro. Astrak has also utilized the Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) to support its training initiatives [2]Pro.

Following their initial engagement with Skills for Growth, Astrak sought external expertise by engaging with Business Gateway and the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) [1]Pro[2]Pro. These collaborations reflect a proactive strategy to leverage external resources for operational and strategic improvements.

Kathryn Hill observed that Astrak has "completely changed how they approach offering career pathways" [2]Pro[4]Pro. This transformation suggests a shift towards a more structured and transparent system for employee advancement, fostering greater employee satisfaction and retention in Kirkcaldy, Scotland [4]Pro. Astrak has also developed relationships with Fife College and Napier University to foster connections with educational institutions and create further pathways for students and graduates [2]Pro[4]Pro. This is reflected in the fact that "Most of the current workforce in Astraks warehouse are under 30" [4]Pro.

In 2023, Astrak transitioned from a "buddy system for new employees to learn the job" to a "competency-based system" for training [1]Pro. This shift, alongside the PDPs, ensures clear career paths for all employees [1]Pro.