"Are there existing models and/or strategies for working with consortia of small businesses in the same occupational clusters to provide the basic skills training they need for workers?

From LiteracyTentWiki

[Alison Campbell, Conference Board of Canada, via NIFL-Workplace Listserve:]

"I have seen consortia of small businesses working in the same industry band together to jointly hire and share a trainer. These all happened to be located in a tight geographical area, though.

Another web site I have done for Canadian employers is Workplace Literacy Central (but the same principles apply to the United States, for the most part). There is a special section (under "Special Situations") devoted to small business issues and suggested solutions: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/workplaceliteracy/

Other ideas and links to potential resources for small businesses can be found on: http://www.workplacebasicskills.com under "Advice for Action / Need Money".

Additional ideas for action for small, medium or large businesses on a range of literacy and basic skills program design, delivery and evaluation issues (including Funding) can be found in the report, "Profiting from Literacy: Creating a Sustainable Workplace Literacy Program". It can be downloaded for free from our web site: http://www.conferenceboard.ca/education/reports/default.htm"