New Funding to Boost Employability Skills in Greater Lincolnshire

People in Greater Lincolnshire will soon be able to benefit from free, flexible training to help them get a new job or further their career.

The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership has been awarded £1.6m by the Department for Education to develop a new wave of Skills Bootcamps in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council.

Skills Bootcamps are part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, helping everyone gain skills for life.

They are free, flexible training courses which give people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast track to an interview with an employer if unemployed, or a new role with an existing employer, or new contracts if you’re working for yourself.

Skills Bootcamps are being rolled out across the country, and they aren’t available everywhere yet.

Greater Lincolnshire has a head start because the Greater Lincolnshire LEP has already started developing Skills Bootcamps with a small number of local organisations as part of the Department for Education’s Wave 3.

Funding for Wave 4 means that colleges, training providers and employers in Greater Lincolnshire will soon be asked to develop Skills Bootcamp proposals to help fill local skills gaps and support people into jobs.

Simon Telfer, Chair of the LEP’s Employment and Skills Advisory Panel, said: “Thanks to our proactive partnership with Lincolnshire County Council we’re ahead of the game nationally when it comes to Skills Bootcamps.

“These fully funded flexible training courses run for up to 16 weeks and aim to help everyone gain they skills they need for life.

“They are free for learners, they can be online, face-to-face or a mixture of both, and they provide learners with the technical skills that employers need. We’re delighted that our proposal to Government has been successful.”

Councillor Patricia Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Adult Learning at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “I’m delighted that we’ll be able to extend the number of Skills Bootcamps on offer in the county. There are now so many ways to start a career in Lincolnshire, with lots of options for free courses and informal training that can lead on to apprenticeships and more formal qualifications.

“It’s a real priority for us to support people into the jobs they want, and to support our businesses with the workforce they need.”

Two of the Skills Bootcamps on offer already are as follows:

Skills Bootcamps in Transport Management Level 3: Modal Training Ltd (Immingham)

Start a career in road haulage and logistics. This is a 10-day Skills Bootcamp to help you get a job as a transport planner or co-ordinator. Contact High Callaway callawayh@tecpartnership.ac.uk.

Professional Cookery Level 3: First College (Skegness)

This Skills Bootcamp will suit someone who has worked previously in a kitchen or has a Level 2 in cookery. They will be looking to gain new skills or considering becoming a chef. Training will take place in Skegness.

Recruiting now to start on 8th March. One day per week for 10 weeks with a break over Easter. Contact Peggy Middleton peggy.middleton@firstcollegelincs.co.uk.

To find out about other Skills Bootcamps in Greater Lincolnshire visit:

https://www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk/priorities-and-plans/priorities/priority-skills/skills-bootcamps.

General information about Skills Bootcamps nationally can be found here:

https://skillsforlife.campaign.gov.uk/courses/skills-bootcamps/.