Employers welcome £27m skills boost

A £27m boost to improve skills and increase job opportunities has been welcomed by local employers who are eager to see measures to counter any job losses due to the economic downturn.

The European Social Fund money will be invested in innovative projects to help people improve skills and stay in work, or develop new skills and find a new job.

Interested organisations are being called on to submit proposals to run regional projects which will develop, test and deliver new ways of extending employment opportunities and improving skills.

Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber, which has its own training divisions, has welcomed the cash boost. Chief executive George Cowcher said: "The issue for employers is about having the right people with the right skills. As circumstances become more challenging we must make the most of the talent we have.

"While there have been some redundancies, there are also many vacancies that need to be filled by skilled people, and retraining will be a vital part of doing that."

The new money is in addition to £100m recently made available for skills training, particularly for those who are currently facing redundancy, and will be targeted at projects helping people who may find it harder to get back into work, such as the disabled or lone parents; or those working with employers to ensure people have the right skills.

Projects involving computer skills, older workers, ‘green jobs' and training and support to set up not-for-profit enterprises will also be targeted. Up to three projects will be supported in each English region. Each project will work with at least one partner from another EU member state.


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