Cornish manufacturers have welcomed the news that the sector is in line for a £1 million training boost.
The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) announced this week provisional approval through the Employer Ownership of Skills project pilot, for a £1 million bid from a group of Cornish manufacturers to train their staff in business related skills.
£375k of funding will be matched by anticipated financial and in kind contributions of £600k from the nine companies involved.
This bid has successfully competed against international PLCs, which says much for the Cornish business economy and those supporting it
The Cornwall Manufacturers Forum, a representative group of the manufacturing companies in Cornwall, brought manufacturers together to develop skills solutions to common problems.
The companies involved in the bid manufacture a range of goods, from gaskets to children’s furniture, springs to microwave products. The bid had to be submitted by a single company and Spiral Construction took the lead.
Spiral’s MD, Eric Nicholls, said: “We are delighted to have led this skills bid, working with Cornwall Manufacturers Forum and Cornwall Development Company, which will help deliver real benefits and training to companies and in turn drive the local economy.
“This bid has successfully competed against international PLCs, which says much for the Cornish business economy and those supporting it. We look forward to continuing involvement in driving Cornish business forward and to continue competing on the national stage and beyond.”
There were 269 bids nationally for the £250m pot – with 34 successful bids announced so far. The Cornish bid is one of few working with smaller businesses and is in the company of international businesses like Siemens and Nissan.
It should be noted that all bids remain subject to due diligence and contractual checks, in line with usual practice.
