£1million secured to help fill vacancies and reduce skills gaps in Cheshire

More than £1,000,000 in funding has been secured to run courses to help fill job vacancies and reduce skills gaps across Cheshire

Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership has been awarded £1,036,653 by the Department for Education to run skills bootcamps in the sub-region.

Skills bootcamps offer free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks – giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track to a guaranteed interview with a local employer.

The funding is to be used across 15 bootcamps over the coming months.

The first three bootcamps will be in logistics (HGV driving), digital marketing and green skills and training providers and employers can apply now to deliver these.

These bootcamps will deliver training for 264 people across Cheshire and Warrington. It is hoped that even more training can be delivered in the future, with access to further funding rounds.

Clare Hayward MBE, Cheshire and Warrington LEP chair, said: “This programme is important to helping us to ensure that our employers have the skilled workforce they need to thrive and grow.

“We’re committed to creating the healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive and growing economy in the UK here in Cheshire and Warrington and filling skills gaps such as in logistics, green tech and digital is crucial to making this happen. 

“We hope that this is just the start, with more bootcamps to be delivered over the coming years as we continue to identify the skills that local businesses need to really help boost and drive our economy.”

Skills Bootcamps are available for adults aged 19 and over who are either in work or recently unemployed. Training is available for employees in the public, private and voluntary sector.

Employers will be at the heart of the bootcamps, and their role may involve recruitment onto the courses, delivery of training and offering interviews for vacancies. Bootcamps will help employers to invest in people to create and retain talent for the future.

To find out more, whether you are interested as a potential training provider, as an employer or as an individual, go to:

Skills Bootcamps - Cheshire and Warrington

What is the LEP?

The Local Enterprise Partnership leads the growth of the Cheshire and Warrington economy through a powerful partnership between the private, public, and voluntary sectors.

The Local Enterprise Partnership Board sets strategic direction for the economic development of Cheshire and Warrington. This is based on an objective assessment of the region’s opportunities and challenges.

As an organisation we listen to the needs of our businesses and communities. We want to build connections with any organisation and individual in Cheshire and Warrington who is prepared to help improve the local economy. We also work closely with partners across the Northern Powerhouse. We are proud of our ability to make things happen. Over recent years we have invested over £200 million of Local Growth Funding. We provide advice and support for businesses through our Growth Hub; improve skills and training in partnership with schools, colleges, and the University of Chester; and promote the region as a great place to live, work, invest, visit, meet and study through Marketing Cheshire.

Pictured - Clare Hayward MBE, Cheshire and Warrington LEP chair.