A digital skills training provider has secured more than £400,000 in funding to deliver bespoke education to more than 110 learners in the West Midlands region.
The project by Netcom Training will include a digital marketing course for retiring athletes for the first time.
The capital has been provided by the West Midlands Combined Authority and will see Birmingham-based Netcom offering fully funded placements to over 19s on flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, starting in January.
The aim is to plug identified gaps in skills shortages with employers across the West Midlands in fields such as cyber security, telecoms and data analytics.
These are alongside a brand new course in digital marketing for retiring athletes which has been designed to support former competitors to transition into life after sports and arm them with the knowledge to set up their own businesses.
Netcom has been in operation for more than a decade and specialises in professional qualifications in IT and digital skills, working in partnership with the voluntary sector, faith organisations and other community groups to access typically hard-to-reach people.
Managing director Kevin Vashi said: "The West Midlands has such a vast variety of employers which all require a diverse range of skills to continue to compete at a national level.
"Our courses are designed with this in mind, ensuring we equip learners with innovative digital skills, build their talent and prepare them for employment so they can access some of the many careers available to them in the tech industry and all of it is fully funded.
"We're especially pleased to be working with the combined authority to support retiring athletes with the next steps in their journey, helping them understand how to launch a business so they can continue to channel their sporting spirit and energy into their own success.
"Funding of this scale serves to unlock potential in people, especially those who feel they go under the radar and often miss out on opportunities.
"Our aim is to ensure nobody is left behind in the pursuit of digital skills building and the authority shares that vision with us."
Clare Hatton, director of employment and skills for combined authority, added: "We are pleased to be supporting Netcom to expand its digital bootcamp offer across the West Midlands and see them offer new training opportunities into emerging, high-growth sectors.
"This will allow more residents the ability to obtain the skills they require to gain a better career and drive the region's economic growth."
