Our priorities within the local employment, skills and training agenda are to inspire and support young people to stay and work here, and to train and support people who are already working (or seeking jobs), so that they gain the skills needed to take up future job vacancies.
Last month we released the Greater Lincolnshire Local Skills Report which sets out local skills strengths and needs. This is an important report which details the LEP’s employment and skills priorities and challenges for Greater Lincolnshire. It has been developed by the Employment AND Skills Advisory Panel, which is chaired by Simon Telfer, HR and Logistics Director at Branston Ltd. The report will be used to guide and shape employment and skills interventions and programmes, and influence future funding streams.
Throughout the pandemic and beyond we have been making a tangible difference with initiatives which we have been delivering directly. We have commissioned and continue to work with organisations who are delivering training and support through the extended European Social Fund (ESF) which has supported over 9,000 people locally since April 2019. Additionally, we have developed an innovative online solution to mimic the role of physical job fairs, bringing employers and job seekers together in a virtual space to share job opportunities: The Greater Lincolnshire Online Jobs & Careers Fair series. Since its inception in November 2020 the series has welcomed nearly 5,000 visitors to the live events, and more than 150 exhibitors have taken part.
We extended our Skills Capital Investment Programme to support facilities that will provide training needs for in-demand jobs – for example, the University Campus in Scunthorpe, a Food Enterprise Zone in Holbeach (part of Greater Lincolnshire's Institute of Technology) and the University of Lincoln Medical School. We also secured funding from the Getting Building Fund to support six new projects with a total grant of £7.8m. These schemes include refurbishment of the Engineering and Construction Energy Centre in Grantham and of a training centre at Boston College. In addition, this scheme will provide a new specialist teaching space (Institute of Technology) at the University of Lincoln, a public-sector skills hub at Horncastle as part of Boston College, an ELITE Tec Partnership scheme across Grimsby and Immingham, and a Construction and Motor Vehicle Centre expansion at Stamford College.
Meanwhile our Enterprise Adviser Network plays a critical role in the skills agenda by linking schools with employers, and encouraging pupils to explore career opportunities in this area. The programme is managed and delivered by the Greater Lincolnshire LEP in collaboration with Lincolnshire County Council and district councils. There are three Enterprise Coordinators employed by the LEP working across Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland to facilitate relationships and initiatives between education and business. Sixty-two mainstream secondary schools and colleges receive support from the Enterprise Adviser Network, and over 55 volunteers from businesses are involved. The volunteers are 'matched' with a school or college to offer a unique insight into the world of work. In addition, over 100 individuals are now part of the Give an Hour programme which gives people the chance to speak directly to students in schools and colleges about their career journey and deliver in-classroom activities. Projects facilitated by the EAN include virtual work experience programmes, school-led business advisory panels and teacher CPD. If you would like to become part of this growing network, click here.
Our ambition remains to enable all residents to reach their potential in the Greater Lincolnshire labour market and to participate in a flourishing and inclusive economy. Supported by intelligence acquired through the Local Skills Report, it is clear there is a need to offer retraining in order to help people return to work. As a result, we have already secured funding to extend the Greater Lincolnshire Skills Capital Programme. The ESF training and support schemes will continue into 2023, and we will continue to deliver our popular Online Jobs & Careers Fair series, as well as develop the Enterprise Adviser Network.
