Local authorities in the South West have secured £1.8m to help support thousands of people into skilled jobs.
Devon County Council and Cornwall Council have secured UK government funding to run a third year of free bootcamp courses to retrain adults for in-demand job roles in emerging and growth sectors.
The courses are designed alongside employers to ensure people are developing industry skills that meet current recruitment needs.
Free training will be provided for a range of digital and technical skills, including cyber, IT, web development, data science, as well as welding and engineering.
This year will also see bootcamps for green and construction job roles, alongside opportunities for those looking to move into healthcare, professional services and creative industries.
The two councils said learners will be supported to secure employment after their training has been completed, including a guaranteed interview.
Dubbed the ‘Train4Tomorrow Skills Bootcamps’, the courses can last for up to four months and will run from July 2022 until March 2023.
They will be open to applicants looking to advance their skills into higher paid employment, or people who are unemployed, self-employed, or returning to work.
Cllr Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council cabinet member for economic recovery and skills, said the authority was “delighted” to be awarded the “significant” investment from the Department for Education’s National Skills Fund.
Cllr Gilbert said: “Devon County Council’s Strategy for Growth’s vision is that Devon is a place where all people can prosper and live their lives well, contributing to a thriving, green and inclusive economy. Skills Bootcamps enable this vision providing opportunities for adults across the county.”
Companies looking to upskill existing employees will be required to contribute to the cost of the training, with SMEs to pay 10% of course fees and 30% from large employers towards the training costs.
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