Greater Manchester’s Skills for Growth programme has expanded further to include fully-funded training for emergency services workers in the city-region.
GMCA has awarded nearly £2 million from the European Social Fund to Seetec to create The Blue Light Development Academy. The Academy aims to support emergency services personnel with career development, including leadership skills and programmes to boost personal wellbeing and resilience.
The training programme has been developed in collaboration with North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) with plans to expand to support to other blue light services in the future.
Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Greater Manchester’s Lead for Education, Work, Skills, Apprenticeships and Digital, said:
“We are proud of Greater Manchester’s pioneering Skills for Growth programme and all of its achievements, with thousands of employees supported in building their careers. However, we know there are still many industries in the city-region who could benefit from fully-funded training.
“The newly launched Blue Light Academy recognises the demanding work of emergency services staff and includes specially adapted courses on how they can manage their well-being during pressured situations. This will not only be of benefit to the workforce, but also our residents who will receive a better service as a result.”
The courses available for front-line and support staff include:
- British Sign Language
- Presentation Skills
- Understanding Health in the Workplace for Managers
- Bespoke Leadership and Management
- Digital Skills
- Inclusivity and Diversity Awareness
- And a range of other topics.
Lloyd DeVal, Director of Sector Skills at Seetec Outsource, said:
“Working collaboratively with North West Ambulance Service, we’re delighted to be able to support the overall mental health and resilience of the emergency services sector in Greater Manchester by upskilling workers so they can progress their career development and improve their overall personal wellbeing.
“As an award-winning provider with significant experience of delivering across Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Seetec Outsource is well placed to deliver the skilled workforce that Greater Manchester needs to meet current and future challenges and embrace growth opportunities.”
Skills for Growth is GMCA’s three-year programme aimed at plugging skills gaps employers in Greater Manchester have highlighted they are struggling to fill. Training offers already launched through the programme include for digital, manufacturing and logistics sectors, among others.
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