£10million boost for skills support in region is warmly welcomed

"This funding will ensure more people are ‘work-ready’ which, in turn, will improve their employability in a number of different sectors.”

More than £10 million in funding will help Warwickshire and the West Midlands to close the skills gap in six key areas to make the region fit for the future when it comes to talent. 

The Department for Education has awarded £10,304,523 of Local Skills Improvement Funds (LSIF) to the region – the highest amount for any area of the UK. 

The funding is in response to the region’s Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), developed by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, working alongside Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Black Country Chamber of Commerce, alongside a host of skills providers and firms, and with strategic oversight from West Midlands Combined Authority. 

Now the funding is in place, partners across the region, including Warwickshire County Council, will set about delivering on the plan that covers topics vital to the economic growth of the region. 

The six key areas are:  

• engineering and manufacturing, with a focus on priorities such as electric vehicles and batteries. 
• construction, with a focus on low carbon techniques and future housing. 
• green skills and how local people can be trained in a key area for the future of the economy. 
• high-level digital skills for non-IT businesses looking at new technologies such as AI and machine learning to improve productivity and efficiency. 
• essential digital skills to support people with basic IT provision to help either find employment or move up the career ladder. 
• Improving the skills landscape for employers by making it much easier for them to understand where to go when they need to access help with training and skills.  

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The announcement of £10.3m Local Skills Improvement Funds for the West Midlands and Warwickshire is one of the biggest in the country and great news for local employers. 

“It is also vindication of the brilliant work that has been taking place between businesses across the region and our excellent local providers. Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is proud to have helped deliver this project and it will provide much needed funds for the skills and recruitment issues our businesses need to grow and find new markets. 

“Most importantly, this marks the start of a new way of delivering skills funding – putting businesses at the start of the process and using innovative ways of delivery, of focus and of engagement.” 

Cllr Martin Watson, Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place at Warwickshire County Council, said: “We are committed to reducing any barriers to growth for businesses, and skills has been identified as one of those, hence all of the work we are doing across the board to develop the skills of residents and also engaging with companies across the county to ascertain their needs. 

“This fresh investment will support that effort and help our economy to thrive while, at the same time, ensuring local people are at the heart of that growth.” 

Fay Winterburn, Lead Commissioner for Employability and Skills at Warwickshire Skills Hub, said: “This is extremely positive news for the our county because it is vital that there is the supply of skills that employers want to help the grow. This funding will ensure more people are ‘work-ready’ which, in turn, will improve their employability in a number of different sectors.” 

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “Education providers and partners have been instrumental in the development of our West Midlands Local Skills Improvement Plans and recognise the importance of responding to the needs of learners and employers. We welcome this additional funding from the Department for Education which will help bring many of the recommendations from the LSIP to fruition - helping colleges and universities to fulfil their ambitions and take our provision to the next level in the months and years ahead.” 

For more information, please go to: https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support/lsip/