CMN shows excellence

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Paul Wickes and Julie Fellows of Cornwall Marine Network receiving award from Andy Brelsford of Volunteer Cornwall

Cornwall Marine Network (CMN) has been recognised for its outstanding training provision to the marine sector at a prestigious awards ceremony.

The annual Cornwall Works WISE awards celebrate excellence in employment and skills activity across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

CMN scooped the accolade at last week’s ceremony for the work-based training it delivers to member businesses and for its engagement with Cornwall’s secondary school pupils through watersports training programmes.

Paul Wickes, CMN’s chief executive, said: “While our marine members identified a skills gap in the industry, they also experienced barriers preventing employees from pursuing existing training. They wanted to undertake skills training but were excluded because it meant too much time for staff away from the business resulting in lost productivity and increased costs.

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“Cornwall Marine Network has developed a means of achieving qualifications in the workplace, with costs supported by ESF Convergence funding. So when these traditional barriers to engagement are overcome, the skills benefits can be realised.”

As a result the number of Cornish marine employees completing NVQ Level 2s has increased from 30 per year in 2007 to 250 every year.

The ceremony, held at the Headland Hotel in Newquay, was organised by the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Jobcentre Plus and the Skills Funding Agency.