A £30m City Deal project aimed at boosting skill levels across the Swansea Bay City Region, aligned to the needs of employers, has secured government approval.
Over the next decade the Skills and Talent programme aims to deliver 2,200 additional skills and development opportunities by helping around 14,000 people upskill. Additionally, at least 3,000 new apprenticeship opportunities will be created. The programme will also create centres of excellence within sectors, including for digital, energy and wellbeing.
In partnership with training providers across the region including local authorities, schools, colleges, unversities and businesses, the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership will lead the programme to identify skill gaps. Investment will be made in course frameworks to ensure there is a match with training needs for future job opportunities.
The project is the eight of nine projects in the £1.3bn City for the region, that covers the local authority areas of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, to be signed off by the 海角视频 and Welsh governments. Both governments are funding the City Deal with a commitment of £241m.
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The nine projects are expected to leverage finance of £637m from the private sector, supplemented by councils using their borrowing powers.
Leader of Carmarthenshire County Council, Emlyn Dole, said: “The Skills and Talent programme will underpin the other eight projects and programmes across the whole City Deal portfolio by mapping the skills gaps and analysing the training needs for the City Deal projects. Identifying the skills gaps across the five main themes - construction, digital, energy, health and wellbeing and smart manufacturing – will help us to shape and deliver the skills needed for the future.
“Working collaboratively with stakeholders and partners we will deliver the training and upskilling required, particularly with schools across the region to highlight opportunities and develop clear pathways for our young people so that they can make the right choices for their future. We will also establish centres of excellence that will create a legacy for the programme and establish the region as the best place to learn specific sector skills.
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“The most crucial part of the programme is the opportunities it will provide students, employees and employers to grow and be part of our regional economy. It will support the development of individuals through learning new skills, apprenticeships, course frameworks and provide career pathways from school education, to further and higher education and into employment.”
Rob Stewart, chairman of the Swansea Bay City Deal’s Joint Committee and leader of Swansea Council, added: “This approval means eight of the nine City Deal projects and programmes have now been approved for the benefit of residents and businesses throughout the City Region.
“The skills and talent programme is a key feature of the major investment as it will put pathways in place for local people to access thousands of well-paid jobs in sectors like life sciences, renewable energy and digital innovation.
“This is important as it will boost regional prosperity, while encouraging more young people from our region to pursue careers right here in South West Wales instead of moving elsewhere.
“Many projects being part-funded by the City Deal are also now under way, which will help accelerate our region’s economic recovery from the pandemic.”
Welsh Government Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “In a rapidly changing economic landscape, it’s vital we provide high-quality opportunities for workers in Wales to gain the skills and experiences they need for the jobs of today and the challenges of tomorrow. This will be key in helping Wales return to the levels of economic growth we enjoyed prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I am delighted the Welsh Government is supporting the Swansea Bay City Deal Skills and Talent programme, which will help create thousands of opportunities for people across South West Wales to upskill and retrain.
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“The Welsh Government remains fully committed to doing everything possible to kick-start a strong Welsh recovery based on the principles of fair work, sustainability and the industries and services of the future.”
海角视频 Government Minister in Wales, David TC Davies added, “I am delighted to approve this multi-million pound investment in the skills and talent of people in the Swansea Bay City Region.
"The 海角视频 Government is helping to train and retain local talent to work in the skilled and well-paid jobs that this City Deal is creating. This announcement is especially great news for young people, who can look forward to more opportunities in the future.”