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Devon & Cornwall receive £1.8m funding boost to support people into skilled jobs

Devon County Council and Cornwall Council have been awarded £1.8 million funding from the Department for Education’s National Skills Fund to run a third year of Skills Bootcamps.

The Train4Tomorrow Skills Bootcamps are flexible courses lasting up to 16 weeks, that offer adults the opportunity to retrain into in-demand job roles in emerging and growth sectors. The bootcamps are designed alongside employers, to ensure people are developing industry skills that meet current recruitment needs, with learners guaranteed an interview at the end of their training.

The bootcamps will run from July 2022 until March 2023, with learners supported to secure employment after their training has been completed.

Part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, the Skills Bootcamps are offered free of charge to individuals looking to advance their skills into higher paid employment, and are open to people who are unemployed, self-employed, or returning to work.

The bootcamps offer free training in a range of digital and technical skills, including cyber, IT, web development, data science, welding and engineering. This year’s bootcamps will also include Skills Bootcamps for Green and Construction job roles, alongside opportunities for those looking to move into Healthcare, Professional Services and Creative Industry. The wide range of Skills Bootcamps are designed to help adults move into new careers, in industries that have open vacancies.

Claire Coulston, Economic Development Officer at Devon County Council, said: “Skills Bootcamps offer people the chance to upskill into sustainable, high-quality jobs, helping people to pivot into higher paid, economically resilient roles. At the same time, the bootcamps support employers and help to fill vacancies, addressing the needs of industry and the wider economy.

Training Providers who offer training to adults in Devon or Cornwall are invited to an online event on Friday 13th May to find out more about the bootcamps, and how they can be a delivery partner. To attend this event please email economy.employmentskills-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

Councillor Rufus Gilbert, cabinet member for Economic Recovery & Skills said “We are delighted to be awarded such a significant Skills Bootcamp investment from the Department for Education for the third consecutive time. Devon County Council’s Strategy for Growth’s vision is that Devon is a place where all people can prosper and live their lives well, contributing to a thriving, green and inclusive economy. Skills Bootcamps enable this vision providing opportunities for adults across the county.”

To find out more about the Skills Bootcamps, visit: train4tomorrow.org.uk