£64m skills investment helping East Midlands residents into better jobs and training

More than £64 million is being invested in skills and employment programmes this year – helping people across the East Midlands gain qualifications, develop new skills and move into work or new careers.

The investment, led by the Mayor of the East Midlands through the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), is helping people at different stages of their working lives – from young people looking for their first job to adults wanting to change career, return to work or develop their skills.

Programmes include the Adult Skills Fund, Skills Bootcamps and Youth Guarantee. More than 300 young people have already moved into a job, further education or training after completing the first Youth Guarantee Trailblazer programme. One in four people taking part in Skills Bootcamps have also improved their career prospects through a new job, promotion or new contracts.

‘Right skills can make a difference’

Mayor Claire Ward said: “Having the right skills can make a real difference to people’s lives. For a young person, it can mean getting that first job. For someone who has been out of work, it can give them a way back in. And for someone who wants a change, it can give them the skills to take their career in a new direction.

“We’re putting money into training that leads to real jobs and working closely with colleges, employers and local organisations to ensure people can get the support they need. 

“There are already some really positive results, with young people moving into jobs, education and training and adults gaining new skills. I want more people across the East Midlands to have that same chance, and to see this investment making a difference in their everyday lives.”

The Youth Guarantee is designed to ensure young people have access to education, training or employment opportunities. A further seven Youth Guarantee projects, worth almost £4 million, are expected to move into delivery in the coming months.

The Careers Hub works with schools and colleges to help young people understand their options and make informed decisions about their future.

For adults, the Adult Skills Fund is supporting people to gain qualifications and develop skills needed by local employers, including through Free Courses for Jobs. Some 21.8 per cent of learners in EMCCA’s adult skills programme live in the 10 per cent most deprived areas in the East Midlands.

Skills Bootcamps provide short, flexible courses developed around employer demand, helping people gain skills in areas where there are job opportunities.

Connect to Work provides employment support for people who face barriers to finding and keeping a job, while Connected Futures supports young people who need additional help to move towards education, training or employment.

Programme of delivery

The programmes are being delivered with colleges, training providers, employers, councils and other local partners.

The investment forms part of 187 schemes currently in delivery through EMCCA, with a combined value of almost £320m. The progress of these programmes will be considered by EMCCA’s Board next week as part of the first consolidated report on delivery against the Mayor’s Corporate Plan.

The report brings together 60 delivery commitments across six corporate plan ambitions, including nine focused on skills for good work. It gives the Board a single view of progress across EMCCA’s programmes and the work taking place across the region.

The performance report will be discussed at the next meeting of EMCCA’s Board. The meeting will take place on Monday 12 October at 11am, at EMCCA’s headquarters in Chesterfield town centre. For details, see https://democracy.eastmidlands-cca.gov.uk.