Investment programme boosts Cornwall’s manufacturing skills

The £3 million programme is backed by the European Social Fund (ESF).

The Cornwall Manufacturers Group (CMG), with a funding package of £169,000, has been recognised for its outstanding success delivering project completion 153% above the given target.

The programme called Developing Skills for Business (DS4B) worked with employers to design, develop and pilot training to improve the relevance of skills training for local businesses.

The CMG actively engaged with manufacturers across the county to identify the needs of the sector. A working group of CMG members held a series of workshops to pinpoint the skills required, identify the courses needed and shape the specifications of delivery, resulting in 46 manufacturing businesses taking part.

33% non-CMG members took advantage of the delivery and were newly introduced to the capabilities of the forum.

Ken Martin, project coordinator commented: “This is an incredible result for everyone involved. Meeting the needs of manufacturers, designing courses by manufacturers for manufacturers that upskills according to need, specifically for the industry, is a long-term legacy of the programme that I’m particularly proud of.

“More so now than ever, as despite whatever impact Covid-19 might be having on industry, the skills outcome through the programme will continue to live on and thrive in all those that took part.”

“If there was the opportunity, it is our ambition to roll the programme out across the South West as we have had a great deal of interest from manufacturers in the region.”

Cornwall Manufacturers Group www.cmgroup.org.uk