Go-ahead for £8.7m skills boost funding

By Anita Jaynes on 30 June, 2017

Three projects to boost practical skills in the West of England got the go-ahead this week.

On Wednesday June 28, the Joint Committee agreed a total of £8.7m from the local growth fund towards new infrastructure aimed to help stimulate economic growth.

The projects are:

  • £3.3m towards a new Infrastructure Construction Skills Centre at Weston College;
  • £5.4m towards a new Health and Active Living Skills Centre at Weston College; and
  • £75,000 towards the British Engineering Manufacturing Association training centre in Yate

The local growth fund is awarded to Local Enterprise Partnerships who consider competitive bids that demonstrate they will create new infrastructure to encourage growth, support business investment and create jobs. Any additional funding required has been found from other local and Government sources.

West of England Mayor Tim Bowles said: “Through the Local Growth Fund the Joint Committee can approve projects that will deliver much needed infrastructure. North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and the wider region will benefit from these projects approved today to improve skills in engineering, construction and health.”

Local Enterprise Partnership interim chair Professor Steve West said: “Approval for these projects show that we can work together to make the West an attractive option for business and industry. These are important steps in ensuring that we have the right skills in the right sectors coming through for the long term.”

The Joint West of England Committee met for the first time on June 28 and is the decision making body for issues relating to the four unitary authorities and the Local Enterprise Partnership.

Details of the meeting can be found at www.westofengland-ca.org.uk