Further funding awards for training providers in Greater Manchester will give over 1,000 people skills for work in key industries, based on skills gaps identified by local employers.
The new Skills for Growth courses will provide fully-funded training opportunities to help people gain knowledge and experience in sectors including: media, green innovation, customer service, and the city-region’s fast-growing digital and tech economy.
A total of £1.1 million from the European Social Fund-backed Skills for Growth programme has been awarded by GMCA to Reform Radio and to The Growth Company. The programmes backed by the scheme have been designed in partnership with employers who have highlighted skills gaps they are struggling to fill.
Reform Radio, an arts organisation and online station that supports young adults into employment, will launch three training courses to help individuals of all ages develop their careers in the creative and cultural sector.
GMCA has also awarded a contract to The Growth Company to create several training programmes, one of which is designed to support the city-region’s growing green economy. The other programme focuses on supporting professional skills, such as HR, customer service and digital skills.
Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Greater Manchester’s Lead for Education, Work, Skills, Apprenticeships and Digital, said:
“We now have an excellent range of live training programmes across a variety of sectors within Greater Manchester’s Skills for Growth programme including digital, manufacturing, construction, early years, logistics, project management and health and social care.
“However, we are fully aware there are still skills gaps which could be addressed with further funding in a number of sectors, and we want to make sure that more people are in the best possible position to take advantage of new opportunities across the city-region. Our skills provider network can play a big part in addressing these challenges due to their own work with employers and knowledge of skills shortages.
“These newly developed innovative training courses, specially tailored to meet business-needs, will help to boost productivity, develop a diverse workforce and continue to grow Greater Manchester’s integrated skills system.”
Rachel Roger, Director from Reform Radio, said:
“We are so excited to launch these programmes across Greater Manchester. They have been developed through consultation with freelancers, artists and organisations across Greater Manchester and we are really thankful to GMCA, Skills for Growth and ESF for the support to deliver this.
“We have developed a really flexible model to ensure employees and organisations are able to engage without impacting on their already busy work loads.
“We have put together an incredible team of audio and media specialists, sustainability experts and a senior psychotherapist, who can’t wait to begin this important work.”
Lisa Jones-Hill, Sector Director for Professional Services at The Growth Company Education and Skills, said:
“We are delighted to have been awarded these exciting new contracts to support the development and training of people across Greater Manchester.
“The Green Skills programme will be delivered at our purpose-designed Green Skills Academy. The first of its kind in the North. The Academy will give learners the opportunity to work with the latest green technology, placing Greater Manchester at the forefront of these emerging technologies. The Powering-Up Professional Skills programme has been developed alongside employers to identify gaps and equip learners with the skills to fill them. Each of these programmes will give learners the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in these in-demand industries to plug skills gaps across these key industries.”
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