£1.5 million available for the development of a Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Skills Access Hub

The Skills Access Hub will work with employers to address their workforce skills needs with the aim of supporting growth. The available funding forms part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme to deliver economic regeneration for the region from 2014-2020.

There is a significant skills gap in the workforce in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and this funding opportunity seeks to address these gaps and to ensure that businesses have the support they need to improve skills levels.

The funding available for the Skills Access Hub requires applications from interested organisations to develop a bespoke local Skills Hub that will provide employers with:

• Assistance with the identification of skills needs for their business
• A brokerage service providing information and support for employers on how to access skills and qualification provision
• Support to access existing business sector groupings and relevant business collaborations or develop new ones where there are identified gaps

Mark Williams, representing employment and skills on the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Board that supports the Growth Programme  said: ‘This new employer led programme approach to business, careers and skills development will enable local employers to be much more involved in designing, delivering and enhancing the skills of their workforce. The Skills Access Hub will support both career development and economic growth by aligning the provision of education, skills and training to the needs of employers, sectors and the local economy.’

The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) fully supports the development of a Skills Hub and is providing some of the match funding that will be required by potential applicants. LEP chair Mark Duddridge said: “Businesses tell us that one of their biggest barriers to growth is finding people with the right skills, so the Skills Hub aims to plug that gap. Not only will it help businesses identify their skills needs but it will act as a bridge between employers and education and training providers to make sure that businesses are in the driving seat when it comes to their needs being met. It is one of a number of activities that the Growth Programme is funding to make sure that skills provision really is demand-led.”

Full detail about this funding opportunity and the application process can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds/learning-and-skills-skills-access-hub-infrastructure-communications-and-management-project-call-in-cornwall-and-isles-of-scilly-oc05s16p0347

Further information about the European Social Fund can be found athttp://www.erdfconvergence.org.uk/growth-programme/esf

ENDS

Editor’s notes 

The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme is part of the England Growth Programme, which will run from 2014-2020.  Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is the only area in England to qualify as a ‘Less Developed’ region and has an allocation of €603.7million which is split as follows:

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) €438 million

European Social Fund (ESF) €166 million

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) has an allocation of £10 million in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, aligned with the wider England Growth Programme.

Details of all Growth Programme calls can be found at https://www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds?keywords=&location%5B%5D=south-west

Contact:

Louise Danks

ldanks@cornwall.gov.uk

07815 002271

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ITI Support Team

Cornwall Council,

Floor 5, Zone A
Pydar House, Pydar Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1XU

Email us at: growthprogramme@cornwall.gov.uk

Visit us at: Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Programme

Follow us: @GrowthProgramme