£3m invested in skills bootcamps to boost employability

£3m has been invested in the launch of new skills bootcamps which aim to improve the employability of Lancashire adults while plugging skills gaps for businesses.

The programme has been launched by Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub and will areas that are most needed by employers, including advanced manufacturing, cyber skills, green power, electric and hybrid vehicles, healthcare and more.

The funded 12 to 16-week bootcamps have been designed for adults aged 19 and over and aim to fast-track learners into new careers, help them excel in their current roles, and empower local businesses to upskill their workforces.

The 27 new bootcamps have been developed in collaboration with employers and training providers across the region, with some already open for applications.

The Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub, which supports the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the county’s 15 local authorities, says that they are on a mission to make Lancashire the best place to develop a career and do business, and providing people with skills central to the ambitious Lancashire 2050 Vision.

Funded by the Department for Education as part of the government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, the Skills Bootcamps cater to a diverse range of learners, including those in full-time employment, self-employed, recently unemployed, or those returning to work after a break.

Local employers have the chance to upskill their employees for higher-level roles by enrolling them in a Skills Bootcamp. Businesses with fewer than 250 employees will contribute just 10 per cent of the course cost, while those with 250 or more employees will contribute 30 per cent.

Previous waves of Skills Bootcamps have had a significant impact on Lancashire's labour market. Over 300 people engaged in Waves 1 and 2, with a further 376 participating in Wave 3.

Debbie Francis, chair of LEP, said: "Initiatives like these, supported by our employers, will ensure that we are driving forward Lancashire’s economy and further establishing the county as a highly-skilled region for key growth areas like green power and cyber skills.”