A £3 million ESF funded, 18-month programme aimed at providing a strategic approach to developing employer-led skills with businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (CIOS) has concluded with exceptional results for the Cornwall Manufacturers Group (CMG).
The CMG, with a funding package of £169k, has universally been recognised for its outstanding success, delivering project completion 153% above the given target.
The innovative 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 a take up 46 manufacturing businesses taking part with 33% non CMG members taking advantage of the delivery and newly introduced to the capabilities of the forum.
Project coordinator Ken Martin said: “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.”
Angus Fosten, MD of Partech, added: “Partech was delighted to participate in this ground breaking CMG project as obtaining training completely relevant to manufacturing in general, and us in particular, was almost impossible. It’s a brilliant project.”
If you’re a manufacturing business and would like to know more, please get in touch with the CMG team at info@cmgroup.org.uk
