News: New funding offers businesses exciting opportunities to develop and train their workforce for the future

Nottingham College has won a slice of the Government’s £65m Skills Accelerator programme which will see money being invested locally on new and innovative training programmes, designed with employers, to meet the skills needs of businesses now and in the future.

The College’s share of the funding will see important innovations in training within modern sustainable construction, engineering, digital and the health sciences sectors. 

Four new Skills and Productivity Boards will be established to help shape the training offer in each sector area with funding earmarked for more than 100 new training courses to be delivered between now and end of March 2022. 

To help design and create each course, and ensure it directly responds to the needs of local businesses, employers are invited to come forward and become members of each board. The Boards will meet virtually and review and contribute insights from each sector area before meeting to design specific course elements to help upskill and develop existing and future employees. 

The Skills Accelerator Programme aims to build stronger partnerships between employers, their representatives and local colleges to respond to economic change, address skills shortages and create opportunities for local people to fill an increasing number of job vacancies. 

Funds are earmarked for research and engagement with employers and for a series of trials of new provision. It will also pay for new equipment so that new courses can be delivered using kit that reflects the industry standard and will see employers receiving payment to offer support to college teachers seeking to upskill in readiness to deliver training to future generations. 

Nottingham, Derby and Burton Colleges submitted a joint bid to reflect the needs of our region and address the diverse needs of our city economies with each college focussing on sectors prevalent within their local area. 

This new scheme presents a unique opportunity for employers to co-create training that meets their needs. Small and large employers are being sought to contribute via the Skills and Productivity Boards. All those interested in taking part should get in touch as soon as possible so that inaugural meetings can be established.