West Midlands and Warwickshire celebrates more than £10 million of skills funding

Business leaders in the West Midlands and Warwickshire have welcomed more than £10 million of Government funding to help close the skills gap in the region.

The Department for Education has announced that the region will receive £10,304,523 of Local Skills Improvement Funds (LSIF), which will be delivered in partnership between businesses and skills providers.

Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has worked alongside Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Black Country Chamber of Commerce, as well as a host of skills providers and firms to create a Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) which was given the green light by the Department for Education.

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Solihull College and University Centre was the lead applicant and will now work with businesses and a range of providers to deliver a series of projects that will help develop the skills needed for the regional economy – both now and in the future.

Corin Crane, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Today’s announcements 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.

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“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, providers and funders will hopefully keep on growing and give the West Midlands economy the boost it needs.”