In recognition of the impact of the second national lockdown on businesses in some of Cornwall’s key sectors, Truro and Penwith College has created a package of fully-funded short courses for furloughed staff in two vital industries.

The idea for the initiative and information on business challenges was developed through Truro and Penwith College’s Hospitality Table Cornwall project, which is part of the ESF Business Clusters project and works with local SMEs to determine and respond to their workforce skills needs.

Individual learners from Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will be able to sign up for two courses initially, subject to availability, covering a range of areas from first aid, infection and prevention control and manual handling, to gel polish, food safety and wines, and will be delivered in Covid-19 safe environments on the Truro College campus.

Hayley McKinstry, programme team leader for hospitality and hair, beauty and complementary therapies said: “The impact of the second lockdown on staff from both the hospitality and hair, beauty and complementary therapy industries is detrimental for not only individual’s mental health, but also professional growth while on furlough. We created a training package covering a number of key areas to keep staff inspired and to upskill while at home.”

The programme of courses, running through November and December, is being delivered by expert tutors from the college and have been designed specifically to support both the hospitality and hair, beauty and complementary therapy industries in the local economy which have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.