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Investment sees boost for Cornwall’s manufacturing skills
An 18 month programme, supported by £3m of European Social Funding (ESF) and aimed at providing a strategic approach to developing employer-led skills with businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, has concluded with exceptional results for the Cornwall Manufacturers Group (CMG).
As part of the programme, the CMG, with a funding package of £169,000, has been recognised for its outstanding success delivering project completion 153% above the given target of 30 manufacturers who were to receive support from the project.
The programme called Developing Skills for Business (DS4B) worked with employers to design, develop and pilot training to improve the relevance of skills training for local businesses.
The CMG worked with employers to design, develop and pilot training to improve the relevance of skills training for businesses in Cornwall / Picture: WES Engineering
The CMG engaged with manufacturers across the county to identify the needs of the sector. A working group of CMG members held a series of workshops to pinpoint the skills required, identify the courses needed and shape the specifications of delivery, resulting in a take up of 46 manufacturing businesses, with 33% non-CMG members taking advantage of the delivery.
Ken Martin, project coordinator, said: “This is an incredible result for everyone involved. Meeting the needs of manufacturers, designing courses by manufacturers for manufacturers that upskills according to need, specifically for the industry, is a long-term legacy of the programme that I’m particularly proud of.
“More so now than ever, as despite whatever impact Covid-19 might be having on industry, the skills outcome through the programme will continue to live on and thrive in all those that took part.”
Angus Fosten, managing director of Partech, added: “Partech was delighted to participate in this ground breaking CMG project as obtaining training completely relevant to manufacturing in general, and us in particular, was almost impossible. It’s a brilliant project.”
Martin concluded: “If there was the opportunity, it is our ambition to roll the programme out across the South West as we have had a great deal of interest from manufacturers in the region.”