Funding announced to transform local skills

The government has announced £165 million of funding to transform local skills.

The funding is intended to address local employer skills gaps, transform training and grown the economy.

Further education providers are being invited to apply for funding from the  Local Skills Improvement Fund. The money will be used to to renovate facilities with up-to-date equipment, help to upskill teachers, and deliver new courses in key subjects such as green construction, carbon capture and cyber security that meet the needs of local employers.

It is hoped that thousands of people will benefit from skills training and help them secure jobs close to where they leave. This should then boost the local economy.

Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said: "Building a world-class skills and apprenticeships nation means listening to the specific needs of local people, businesses, and institutions.

"This funding will revolutionise how we plug local skills gaps and provide a boost to the economy. Supporting colleges to better meet the needs of local employers not only boosts businesses, it extends the ladder of opportunity to even more people from all backgrounds who will be equipped with the skills they need to secure a rewarding job close to home."

Jamie Stevenson, group executive director at New City College, which was a recipient of funding said: "Being the project lead for the Central London Forward SDF project has enabled us, alongside local employers and stakeholders, to pioneer a new way of working. From the project’s inception, we have worked collaboratively to identify and meet the local need for high quality technical training to develop green skills. This has included upskilling teaching staff and setting an industry-leading standard for low carbon energy learning labs.

"The SDF has made an important contribution to local people and employers in Central London by providing access to green skills training which supports people to get a good job or further develop their career in the low carbon energy sector, enabling us to work towards meeting the 2050 net zero challenge."

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