Hundreds of people in Greater Manchester are set to be fast-tracked into roles in construction and green energy as a result of a new training programmes launched by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
The GMCA has awarded £1.5m to five providers, who will run skills bootcamps to support people to build sector-specific skills.
The programme is being funded through the government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee, with approximately £341,000 being awarded to One Manchester and £125,000 to Complete Skills Solutions.
Another three providers are also set to receive funding to deliver training, which will be announced at a later date.
The construction and green energy training courses have been designed alongside employers and aim to help people secure employment in both industries, while filling skills gaps highlighted by the sector.
Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, Greater Manchester’s lead for Education, Work, Skills, Apprenticeships, and Digital, said: “These Skills Bootcamps will help us to continue building a better Greater Manchester for everyone, giving unemployed adults or those in low-income work a chance to learn or retrain and then go on to get good, future-proof jobs and careers.
“With pressure on people’s incomes this year, one of the best ways Greater Manchester Combined Authority can help people is through courses designed with improving job prospects with local employers in mind.
“Greater Manchester is helping more people get the skills they need for good quality jobs, not just in green and construction industries but also through our other Skills Bootcamps focussed on digital skills.
“Training residents in Construction and Green Energy skills also helps support our work towards building a greener, fairer and more prosperous Greater Manchester.”
The courses
One Manchester’s skills bootcamps are being run in partnership with Morsons and B4 Box and will focus on delivering rail engineering and construction skills.
The construction course is a part-time course in Stockport, which takes place over 12 weeks.
The Rail Engineering Bootcamp is a full time three-to-four-week course based in Salford.
The Complete Skills Solutions’ Skills Bootcamps are being run in partnership with Complete Training Solutions, which focuses on renewable solar energy skills training.
The training will take place over four weeks, across Manchester and Liverpool.
‘Considerable growth’
One Manchester’s director of Customers and Communities, Issy Taylor, said: “We are proud to be a part of the team delivering this essential training, which will help our residents to learn the skills they need for a variety of job roles.
“We are working with established training providers Morsons and B4 Box to offer the Skills Bootcamps, which are flexible and ideal for someone who is interested in working in the construction or engineering sector.
“If one of our residents is interested in joining the bootcamps but needs a bit of help with their application, our Employment and Skills service is on hand to support people with that too.”
Ian Green, managing director of Complete Skills Solutions, said: “We are delighted to expand our offering, enabling Greater Manchester residents to complete the Green Energy Skills Bootcamp.
“The Skills Bootcamp has been hugely successful, and we hope that success will continue in Greater Manchester.
“Forecasts predict considerable growth in the green construction and renewables industries, with plenty of opportunities for individuals to access sustainable employment.
“With a wealth of opportunities available, there has never been a better time to enter the green industry.
“The Green Energy Skills Bootcamp expansion enables us to support even more individuals to start their journey in the sector.”
Skills Bootcamps will support individuals across priority groups, including:
- Low paid workers
- The unemployed or out of work
- Veterans
- Ex-offenders
- Women
- Ethnic minorities
- The over-50s
- Those returning work after a break/maternity leave
- People living with a health conditions or disabilities
Image: photobyphotoboy/Shutterstock
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