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Somerset & Dorset receive £1m funding boost to support people into skilled jobs

Somerset County Council and Dorset County Council have been awarded nearly £1 million funding from the Department for Education’s National Skills Fund to run a third round of Skills Bootcamps.

The Train4Tomorrow Skills Bootcamps are training courses up to 16 weeks long, providing adults with the opportunity to retrain into high-demand job roles in sectors that are emerging or rapidly growing. The next round of bootcamps will be running from July 2022 until March 2023, and are developed alongside employers to ensure that those attending courses are gaining industry relevant and in-demand skills. 

The courses available offer exciting development opportunities in industries that are currently seeking skilled professionals. Learners are guaranteed an interview with a local employer once their training is complete.

The Skills Bootcamps are available to those who are unemployed, self-employed, or returning to work. Thanks to the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, they are also offered free of charge to individuals, supporting people’s ambitions of advancing into a higher wage bracket, or joining a new sector.

There are a wider variety of bootcamps available this year, including Green Skills – Construction, CAD, Mechanics, Welding, IT and Cyber Security, Digital Marketing and Social Media, Cyber Readiness, Programming, and Health and Social Care. Partners providing the training include Bridgwater and Taunton College, Weymouth College, Somerset Skills & Learning, Train4All, Bluescreen IT, Bath College, and the NHS.

Simone Tyrie, Employment & Skills Project Coordinator at Somerset County Council, said: “The Train4Tomorrow Skills Bootcamps help individuals to upskill for their dream careers, and develop future proof skills for higher paid roles.

“They also present an opportunity to support employers looking to fill vacancies in sectors that are recruiting skilled individuals due to industry demand. This training is free, high-quality, and provided by enthusiastic industry experts who are keen to expand the career horizons of those who take part, fill skills gaps for employers, and improve the wider economy of the South West region.”

Employers can develop the expertise of their existing employees as well as benefit from the opportunity to recruit learners with specialist skills. There is a small cost for employers who would like to train their own employees: SMEs are required to contribute 10% of the course costs, whilst large employers are asked to contribute 30% towards training expenses. Those wanting further details on how the Skills Bootcamps can benefit their business can email swtechnicalbootcamps@somerset.gov.uk.

Councillor Val Keitch, Lead Executive Member for Prosperity at Somerset County Council, said: “We are so pleased to receive Train4Tomorrow Skills Bootcamp funding that will benefit people living and working in Somerset and Dorset. We are always searching for ways in which we can enhance the economic prosperity of the South West and ensure that the area is a desirable place to learn and live. Skills Bootcamps open doors for those individuals looking to advance in their careers and progress as part of an inclusive and diverse economy.”

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