£1m scheme set to improve standards for Telford apprentices

BUSINESSES in Telford have been offered free training for new apprentices under a scheme being developed by a manufacturing partnership.

The free training is for business administration, engineering and manufacturing apprentices and the scheme is being run by the Telford Manufacturing Partnership, funded through the Employer Ownership of Skills Pilot.

The training is above what is required for the standard apprenticeship frameworks and is in response to business demand.

The Telford Manufacturing Partnership is run out of DENSO Manufacturing UK, which is the lead employer for the project. It has secured £1m through the Employer Ownership of Skills pilot fund, which is supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The aim of the TMP is, via employer led skills training, to create long term solutions to recruitment and skill issues within engineering and manufacturing businesses in Telford and Wrekin. It also aims to increase the employability of the local workforce, regardless of employment position or status.

The TMP is supported by Telford & Wrekin Council as well as Telford College of Art and Technology and Matrix Training.  

University of Wolverhampton work placement project secures £90K

A UNIVERSITY of Wolverhampton project helping graduates get paid work placements has won nearly £90,000 funding.

The Step programme puts graduates into extended work experience placements, helping them gain vital training and earn money while doing so.

The university works closely with businesses across the Black Country and beyond to arrange the placements, which can last up to 22 weeks and are a cost-effective route for employers to recruit new talent.

Following a successful bid to Wolverhampton City Council, the university will be able to offer more placements than ever next year.

The funding will be used to offer firms a hugely discounted rate for graduate placements.

Skill shortages on the agenda at Coventry & Warwickshire chamber summit

SKILLS shortages and transport improvements dominated the agenda when business leaders from across Coventry and Warwickshire met to discuss issues affecting the sub-region.

The five branch chairs from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s local committees came together to talk about their own area’s individual issues and also where there is common ground.

Jim Griffin, the Rugby branch chair; Sandra Garlick, the Coventry branch chair; Paul Carvell, the North Warwickshire branch chair; Sophie Howe, the mid-Warwickshire branch chair and Larry Coltman, the South Warwickshire branch chair met at Chamber House in Coventry.

Angela Tellyn, the chamber’s partnership manager, said: “It was great to get the branch leaders together to discuss what is happening in the region.

“Of course, there are issues affecting every area which are individual to them but there are also common issues that they want to work together to solve.

“Skills is an issue that is not unique to Coventry or any of our four Warwickshire branches so that is another example of where a common effort will bring benefits.”