A FURTHER and higher education centre is to receive a share of £8.5m in a Cumbria-wide push to upskill workforces to meet future employment needs.
Furness College, in Barrow, is a key partner set to benefit from the project which will offer funded training opportunities, focusing on workforce development within Cumbria's small and medium sized enterprises. The scheme will also offer additional support to recruit apprentices.
Carlisle College will lead a consortium of partner colleges and training providers who will use the funding to support Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnerships vision for the county to have one of the fastest growing economies in the UK by raising skills levels and reducing skills gaps.
The other partners are Kendal College, the University of Cumbria, Lakes College, Newton Rigg, Cumbria Business Growth Hub, Gen2 and SP Training.
The project, which will run to March 2018, has been funded by the European Social Fund, via the Skills Funding Agency and Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.
Helen Wharton, director of employer and adult learning at Furness College, said: “Securing this funding is great news for employers who can now put plans in place to upskill their workforce. The business development team at Furness College are looking forward to hearing from SMEs who are looking to tap into this funding to help grow their businesses.”
The project will provide individuals with opportunities to develop the skills that will enable them to progress in employment.
At the same time it will support employers to take on and develop individuals to fill intermediate, technical and higher level skills gaps and shortages to enable growth.
Provision is also available to support businesses which are undergoing industrial restructuring by providing skills and employability support for their employees at risk of redundancy while also supporting SMEs affected by staff attrition to major infrastructure schemes.
In order to deliver a highly responsive programme that is tailored to the needs of business, eight employer panels will be set up in priority sectors to ensure employers are involved in directing and shaping the training services that are provided.
An impartial brokerage service will be created for businesses with the aim of simplifying the recruitment of apprentices.
Zoe Makepeace, assistant director at Carlisle College with responsibility for the management of the new contract, said providing funded training to those in work is a massive business growth opportunity for the county.
George Beveridge, chairman of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, said, “SME and business growth in the county is underpinned by the right skills and qualifications for the local workforce. More funded training and apprenticeship opportunities offered through projects such as this help local people gain the qualifications they need to access new jobs, as well as providing businesses with appropriately skilled staff."
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