i2i

i2i was founded in May 2004 as Inspire 2 Independence (Training) Ltd with Head Offices at the University of York. With five directors, experienced in helping individuals back into sustainable employment, programme centres were established in the Marches (West Midlands) and Stockport, catering for Lone Parent groups and New Deal clients.

Building on this initial success, new contracts were secured in the Greater Manchester East and West districts and an innovative Coaching Academy was established for Ethnic Minorities at the Ewood Park football stadium in Blackburn with Darwen, Lancashire.

A rapidly growing team of Senior Managers, Project Managers, Employment Specialists and Delivery staff have, since then, opened centres in the North East, Preston and Bolton, establishing a strong reputation with high standards of delivery and job outcomes.

As the company has grown, specialists in Workforce Development have forged links, joining consortiums with colleges in the North East and West Midlands, offering National Vocational Qualifications to businesses in the retail, hospitality and customer services sectors. This has resulted in the securing of direct Train to Gain contracts in seven LSC regions, involving fully and partly funded Level 2, 3 and 4 National Vocational Qualifications.

Over the past three years of operation, i2i has successfully engaged with a broad spectrum of clients, from the jobless to employers wishing to develop their workforce and their own management skills. Managers have explored the Trained Brain initiative to develop their leadership skills using techniques developed for enhancing sporting skills. Managers and Directors of SME's have taken advantage of funding to access bespoke business development courses. And Team-building has been targeted specifically at our Venture Out centre at Aldwark, North Yorkshire and Rock & River centre in Manchester.

The journey has been an exhilarating one for everyone involved in the unprecedented growth of i2i. From an initial team of ten, the company has grown to a workforce of over 200 employees and is now firmly established as a major training provider and contributor to the employment and up-skilling of our national workforce.