Call to snap up remaining places on jobs-boosting skills bootcamps

A rallying call has been made to people across Cheshire to snap up the remaining places on a diverse range of jobs-boosting skills bootcamps.

It comes as data from Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington reveals that 900 people in the region have grasped the chance to either find jobs, progress in the workplace or grow their business after signing up to one of the region’s skills bootcamps in the last three years.

Run by local employers, colleges and independent training providers, the 16-week flexible training programmes help employers recruit people with the right skills, upskill existing staff and give residents the chance to learn sector-specific skills and get a guaranteed interview.

In May this year Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington confirmed it had secured more than £2m in government funding to create a further 640 places on around 40 Skills Bootcamps covering subjects from artificial intelligence and covert surveillance to railway construction.

The current wave of courses is underway.

Today officials said more than half of spaces had been taken and urged people to move fast and sign up to the remaining places on skills bootcamps in a host of diverse areas ranging from heat pump installation to 3D printing.

And among those backing the rallying call was Steve Ridgway who urged others to take the plunge after expanding his agricultural contracting business on the back of successfully completed a skills bootcamp run by JMA Associates.

Steve from Malpas, Cheshire, enrolled on a Skills Bootcamp in HGV Driving as an extra addition to his agricultural business S Ridgway Agricultural Services which provides umbilical slurry spreading and other related services across South Cheshire, North Shropshire and North Wales.

He said:

“As an agricultural business there are times of the year when the weather determines how much work can be undertaken. So, expanding into logistics and haulage seemed like a natural addition to the business.

“The skills bootcamp gave me crucial HGV driving training in the form of a mix of practical and online sessions. And as a result of completing the skills bootcamp I was able to get my HGV Class 1 licence and expand the business. This enables us to offer farm produce to current customers and opens up the potential to move other food related products. I would encourage anyone looking to boost their employment credentials to sign up to a skills bootcamp.”

The Skills Bootcamps are available for adults aged 19 and over, who either live or work in Cheshire and Warrington, and who have the right to work in the UK.

They are free for all unemployed, employed or self-employed people, but people in work will require a small contribution from their employer. 

When the current wave of skills bootcamps has been completed it will mean funding secured by Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington (formerly Cheshire and Warrington LEP) has allowed 1,199 people aged 19 or over to attend 74 Skills Bootcamps in a host of specialisms.

Councillor Karen Shore, Deputy Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council and the Member of the Cheshire and Warrington Joint Committee responsible for Skills and Careers, said: 

“It is great to see the continued impact of the region’s Skills Bootcamps not just in terms of addressing skills gaps and upskilling existing workforces but helping those looking for work gain employment. I would urge anyone thinking about enrolling to take the plunge while spaces remain.”

Cheshire Skills Bootcamps with spaces include:

• 3D printing
• Railway maintenance
• Human resources
• Heat pump installation
• Laboratory skills
• IT support
• Early years educators
• Digital marketing
• Soft-ware development including artificial intelligence
• Health and care
• Construction skills including scaffolding, and site management
• Pharmacy technician
• Logistics including HGV and forklift truck drivers and import/export clerks 

You can find out more and see the full list of skills bootcamps HERE.