Skills bootcamps set to enhance employment opportunities in the region
The Heart of the South West LEP (HotSW LEP), Digital Skills Partnership, has launched ten free Digital and Technical bootcamps, providing people in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay with the opportunity to access free training worth up to £3,000.
The Government-funded #Train4Tomorrow bootcamps will help adults develop digital and technical skills that lead to higher-paid roles within growth sectors, opening up opportunities to move into careers such as cyber security, data science, software development, digital marketing, IT, digital healthcare, welding, engineering and construction.
The training is free and each course is designed by industry to meet current available vacancies. There is also a guaranteed interview for everyone completing the bootcamp training.
Funded by the Department for Education’s National Skills Fund, the new training programme is delivered by the HotSW Digital Skills Partnership with the support of expert partners including Babcock International, Bluescreen IT, Bridgwater & Taunton College, Cosmic, Exeter College, Focus Training Group, South Devon College, The Learning People and Train4All.
The bootcamps, which are recruiting now for January, have been designed to help those out of work, returning to work, or in-work and wishing to advance their skills. The training will provide people with the skills needed to work in industries that are set to grow or are resilient to the current economic downturn.
The bootcamps are open to adults aged 19 and above, and are designed to be flexible, taking place in various locations around the region, including online, from 5 to 25 hours a week. Delivery partners are actively encouraging participation from a range of individuals, including those with disabilities, neuro-diverse people and those who have worked for the Ministry of Defense.
HotSW Digital Skills Partnership Manager, Charlotte Collyer, said: “The bootcamps offer people a fantastic range of digital and technical specialisms, delivered by some of the best regional and national training providers, as well as access to hundreds of employers and live vacancies. This is an early pilot wave of Digital and Technical Bootcamps that will inform a wider national roll-out, from the Department of Education next year, and a fantastic opportunity for people to re-skill and gain employment.”
HotSW LEP Chair, Karl Tucker, said: “It’s more important now than ever for our business community to pull together to help the region recover from the impact of the pandemic.
“Providing local people with job opportunities in the region’s growing sectors, is key to the success of the economy in the Heart of the South West region; filling the skills gap for employers and getting people back in work.”
Henry Smith, from training provider, Cosmic, said, “Our programme is designed to support new and existing staff within the Health & Social Care industry. We’ve designed our programme hand-in-hand with the NHS and regional employers, so we’re confident that the skills taught will really help people succeed in their roles as carers.”
To find out more about the #Train4Tomorrow Digital and Technical bootcamps and to register go to www.train4tomorrow.org.uk.
You can also follow the Skills Launchpad on social media:
Twitter https://twitter.com/SkillsLaunchpad
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skillslaunchpad
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Skillslaunchpad/
