£30m City Deal programme to boost skill levels signed off
A £30M City Deal project aimed at boosting skill levels across the Swansea Bay City Region, aligned to the needs of employers, has secured government approval.
Over the next decade, the Skills and Talent programme aims to deliver 2,200 additional skills and development opportunities by helping around 14,000 people upskill. Additionally, at least 3,000 new apprenticeship opportunities will be created.
The programme will also create centres of excellence within sectors, including digital, energy and wellbeing.
In partnership with training providers across the region, including local authorities, schools, colleges, universities and businesses, the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership will lead the programme to identify skill gaps. Investment will be made in course frameworks to ensure there is a match with training needs for future job opportunities.
The project is the eighth of nine projects in the £1.3bn City Deal for the region, which covers the local authority areas of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, to be signed off by the UK and Welsh governments. Both governments are funding the City Deal with a commitment of £241m.
The nine projects are expected to leverage finance of £637m from the private sector, supplemented by councils using their borrowing powers.
The leader of Carmarthenshire Council, Emlyn Dole, said: “The Skills and Talent programme will underpin the other eight projects and programmes across the whole City Deal portfolio by mapping the skills gaps and analysing the training needs for the City Deal projects. Identifying the skills gaps across the five main themes – construction, digital, energy, health and wellbeing and smart manufacturing – will help us to
shape and deliver the skills needed for the future.
“Working collaboratively with stakeholders and partners, we will deliver the training and upskilling required, particularly with schools across the region, to highlight opportunities and develop clear pathways for our young people so that they can make the right choices for their future. We will also establish centres of excellence that will create a legacy for the programme and establish the region as the best place to learn specific sector skills.
“The most crucial part of the programme is the opportunities it will provide students, employees and employers to grow and be part of our regional economy. It will support the development of individuals through learning new skills, apprenticeships, course frameworks and provide career pathways from school to further and higher education and into employment.”
Rob Stewart, chairman of the Swansea Bay City Deal’s Joint Committee and leader of Swansea Council, added: “The Skills and Talent programme is a key feature of the major investment as it will put pathways in place for local people to access thousands of well-paid jobs in sectors like life sciences, renewable energy and digital innovation.
“This is important as it will boost regional prosperity, while encouraging more young people from our region to pursue careers right here in
South West Wales instead of moving elsewhere.
“Many projects being part-funded by the City Deal are also now under way, which will help accelerate our region’s economic recovery from the pandemic.”
Welsh Government Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “In a rapidly changing economic landscape, it’s vital we provide high-quality opportunities for workers in Wales to gain the skills and experiences they need for the jobs of today and the challenges of tomorrow. This will be key in helping Wales return to the levels of economic growth we enjoyed prior to the coronavirus pandemic.”
UK Government Minister in Wales David TC Davies added: “I am delighted to approve this multi-million-pound investment in the skills and talent of people in the Swansea Bay City Region.
“This announcement is especially great news for young people, who can look forward to more opportunities in the future.”