Hundreds of people in Greater Manchester are set to be fast-tracked into roles in construction and green energy thanks to the launch of new training programmes, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) say.
GMCA has awarded £1.5m to five providers, who it says 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 £341,00 being awarded to One Manchester and £125,000 to Complete Skills Solutions.
Another three providers are also set to receive funding to deliver vital training, which will be announced at a later date. GMCA say 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.
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, GMCA says. The construction course is a part-time course in Stockport which takes place over 12 weeks, where participants will complete training in Construction Multi-skills and learn a range of retrofitting skills.
One of the best ways GMCA can help people is through courses designed with improving job prospects with local employers.
The Rail Engineering Bootcamp is a full-time three-to-four-week course based in Salford, which provides participants with a “range of skills” to undertake duties across major rail projects and routine maintenance.
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.
GMCA say participants will gain both a practical and theoretical understanding of solar construction along with industry qualifications. Learners will also gain access to sector-specific employability coaching, which is designed to prepare participants for a guaranteed interview with Fieldway Group following the successful completion of training.
The programme is part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee and Plan for Jobs initiatives, which is designed to help people onto the career ladder, transition back into work or access progression opportunities, while also helping employers meet skills needs.
GMCA says Skills Bootcamps will also support individuals across priority groups including low-paid workers, veterans and ethnic minorities.
These Skills Bootcamps will help us to continue building a better Greater Manchester for everyone.
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.”