£10 million in funding will help the West Midlands and Warwickshire to close the skills gap says Chamber of Commerce

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

The Department for Education 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) which was 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 (WMCA).

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

The first focus is on engineering and manufacturing, with a focus on priorities such as electric vehicles and batteries.

The second theme identified is construction, with a focus on low carbon techniques and future housing.

The third priority area is looking at green skills generally and how local people can be trained in a key area for the future of the economy.

The fourth focus area is high-level digital skills for non-IT businesses looking at new technologies such as AI and machine learning to improve productivity and efficiency.

The fifth project is focus on essential digital skills to support people with basic IT provision to help either find employment or move up the career ladder.

The final focus area is to improve 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. The focus will be in simplifying the process and demonstrating return on investment for businesses.

Solihull College and University Centre was the lead applicant and will now work with businesses and a range of providers to deliver on the six projects.

Dudley College of Technology, WCG, Fircroft College, Halesowen College and Birmingham Metropolitan College are all partners in delivering areas of focus set out by the LSIF.

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.

“This relationship between Chambers of Commerce, businesses, training providers and funders will hopefully keep on growing and give the West Midlands economy the boost it needs.”

Henrietta Brealey, Chief Executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “We are delighted that the Department for Education has approved the application by a consortium of West Midlands Further Education providers to deliver a response to the recommendations of the Local Skills Improvement Plan.

“The commitment of £10.3m to bolster FE provision in the region is fantastic news for both residents and local employers, and we are proud to have played a role in identifying the priorities which the approved projects will address.

“We look forward to continuing to work with further education providers, employers and stakeholders to support local skills development and business growth across the West Midlands.”

Sarah Moorhouse, Chief Executive of Black Country Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are delighted that the Black Country Chamber of Commerce is part of the Local Skills Improvement Plan that local employers need, and that funding is now approved to start implementing the identified improvements.

“We look forward to working with Solihull College and other providers to continue our commitment to improving the local talent pool available to employers.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair, said: “A key part of my mayoral mission is to ensure local people have the skills they need to succeed. We’re fortunate to be home to a range of excellent providers offering a remarkable range of provision - which we continue to improve.

“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.”

Rebecca Gater, Principal and Chief Executive of Solihull College and University Centre, said: “Solihull College and University Centre is delighted to lead on the West Midlands and Warwickshire Local Skills Improvement Fund.

“The further education colleges and training providers in the region are working collaboratively with the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, the West Midlands Combined Authority and the Warwickshire Skills Hub to deliver an integrated response tailored to the specific needs of our local and regional economy.

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“The Department of Education’s investment is as a testament to our commitment to enhancing the capabilities of the current and future regional workforce.

“It will support us to upskill the current and future workforce to meet regional skills priorities including electrification and battery technology, sustainable construction and future housing, green skills and digital.

“Funding will enable us to invest in cutting-edge facilities, high quality resources, and equipment that ensures the curriculum we offer meets the needs of employers, improves efficiency and productivity, and equips local people with the skills they need to succeed in current and future careers.”