The North of Tyne Combined Authority’s career development scheme, ‘Skills Bootcamp’ has secured £9 million funding from the Department of Education.
Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Northumberland residents will benefit from the cash injection into the scheme.
Skills Bootcamps
Funding will benefit the next phase of the ‘Skills Bootcamps’ programme in the city-region.
Skills Bootcamps provides adults in the ‘North of Tyne’ region with access to sought-after training and a fast-track interview for good quality work.
The scheme helps local people find employment in growing industries, change careers, or get the skills they need to move into a better job.
The programme is fully funded for those not accessing training through an employer.
Many residents have benefited from the scheme.
Mayor Jamie Driscoll said: “This funding boost is a massive win for local residents across the region. The pandemic, and now the cost-of-living crisis, has had a devastating impact on people’s jobs and businesses. These bootcamps help get many of those worst-affected back on their feet while ensuring we have the right people with the right skills to support our rapidly growing local industries.”
Andy Smith benefited from the scheme
Andy Smith, 35, from Blyth, Northumberland, is just one of the many residents to have already benefited from the Bootcamps.
Before the pandemic, Andy was a self-employed landscape gardener with a thriving business.
When COVID-19 hit, Andy was forced to close the company he had worked hard to build over ten years.
He found himself applying for Universal Credit and relying on support from a local foodbank.
Andy said: “I felt completely lost,”
“It was probably the lowest point in my life. It certainly didn’t feel good.”
He considered returning to a previous career in construction but knew his knowledge and skills would be out of date.
Andy decided to complete a free, four-week Skills Bootcamp in construction and machinery.
During the bootcamp he renewed his certification, refreshed his training, and learned new skills.
He later landed a new job as a Trainee Heavy Plant Operations Instructor, at £30,000 a year with RMF.
Skills Bootcamps benefit employers
The scheme benefits employers by enabling them to fill specific skills shortages and team vacancies – increasing productivity within their organisations.
Councillor Karen Kilgour, NTCA Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion and Skills, said: “Our Skills Bootcamps programme goes from strength to strength. This funding boost will support even more adults across the region to take advantage of these free courses and get on the path to sustainable careers in key growth sectors.
“The programme also benefits employers by helping them to recruit a diverse workforce with the technical skills their businesses need.”
Bootcamp course subjects
In the last 12 months, the NTCA has helped fund a wide range of Bootcamp courses in a range of subjects.
Course subjects include digital marketing and cyber security, as well as low carbon heating, installation of green technologies, and rail engineering, to name a few.
The programme supports growing areas of the local economy – including digital, tech, and green industries.
For more information about Skills Bootcamps you can visit The North of Tyne Combined Authority’s website
This article is based on a Press Release from The North of Tyne Combined Authority
