£1.2m boost for key workforce development projects
KEY workforce development projects have been awarded £1.2 million of funding in North East Lincolnshire, with a wide-ranging seafood sector bid leading the pack. Central government cash has been drawn down for five initiatives from the UK Community Renewal Fund.
It is aimed at boosting job prospects and opportunity, while making Grimsby’s key sector more attractive and aligned to modern ways of working.
A total of £433,510 has been secured by UK Food Valley Pilot for the seafood sector.
It will be used to test an innovative support programme to develop the industry’s skills, innovation capacity and ability to attract new talent, “helping to ensure the position of Grimsby’s Seafood Cluster as a global hub”. It is supported by the University of Lincoln.
Dean of the National Centre for Food Manufacturing there, Val Braybrooks, is working with Grimsby Institute, cluster representative Simon Dwyer of Seafox, and Seafish, the industry authority.
She said: “It is a strong partnership of organisations well positioned to support the advancement of the seafood sector. It is delivered by a team of experts and is going to help address challenges of carbon reduction and net zero - a key goal for the seafood sector as well as the need to digitalise and respond to consumer demand and the social imperative of sustainable and healthy food by applying new technology across a range of areas. A parallel offer will be a skills programme, to ensure people are prepared to adapt to new technologies.
“We hope it can be an exemplar project and will help secure future investment as we go further.”
In the allied logistics sector, £214,922 has been awarded to Imminghambased Modal Training, a sister facility to Grimsby Institute under the TEC Partnership group. It will provide additional capacity to deliver the key qualifications required.
Mr Dwyer said: “The Seafood Grimsby & Humber Alliance and Grimsby Fish Merchants’ Association boards have collaborated with the
National Centre of Food Manufacturing on this opportunity to secure funding for primarily, but not exclusively, the members of both organisations.
“Our seafood processing cluster is the largest in Europe. The levelling up government funding will help the businesses throughout our cluster remain competitive, innovate and improve energy efficiencies, such as carbon targets. They will also receive first class business growth advice and, vitally, funded grants to purchase equipment towards these objectives.
“The impact of this will be felt by large businesses and the supply chain through to SMEs and our famous independent mobile fishmongers who travel the length and breadth of England each week selling fish and seafood that meets our #MadeGreatInGrimsby initiative credentials.”
Also on the Net Zero theme, Smarter Energy North East Lincolnshire has obtained £300,000 to develop and test the feasibility of new approaches to SME engagement in energy reduction.
Employment programmes at both ends of the spectrum have also received cash.
CPO and CatZero have been given £147,125 for an Inclusion into Employment Programme to work together to support people aged 16-plus into work through a bespoke programme of activities, while Reignite gets £199,849. It supports those aged 45-plus, who have found themselves unemployed due to the pandemic and helps them to secure employment by addressing the barriers to the labour market.
The Community Renewal Fund bridges the gap between European Structural Funds and the post-Brexit UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
North East Lincolnshire Council had invited organisations to bid in the spring. Interest was received from 27 organisations, with 14 put forward.
Deputy leader of North East Lincolnshire Council and portfolio holder for finance, resources and assets, Cllr Stan Shreeve, said: “The news that these five have been successful is great. They are proven organisations with good records of supporting and helping people within our communities and we are pleased they will be able to continue that good work.”