Businesses have until 5 December to apply for the second call of a government funded scheme that aims to improve the quality of training and career progression in the engineering sector.
The Employer Ownership Fund automotive supply chain call, (forming part of a £30M initiative announced in June by skills and enterprise minister, Matthew Hancock) is available to all companies that employ engineers. Offering employers a 50% cash match for training programmes, the application process is not bureaucratic and provides a fantastic opportunity for companies to address skills shortages holding their businesses back. Previous businesses that were accepted onto the scheme received their funding in approximately six weeks.
£10M of the scheme is set aside to fund projects that help people into and progress through the engineering profession, by equipping people with the skills that will secure employment within the sector.
Another driving force behind the scheme is to encourage more women into the industry and £10M of the fund is directed to this. The scheme will fund companies that develop training projects that are specifically directed towards assisting the career progression of female engineers.
Open until the 5th December 2014, 50% government contribution will be available for the following:
Training programmes to bring people with STEM skills into Engineering
Re-skilling programmes to keep engineers in the profession
Raising skill levels through the workforce from operator to technician and towards professional status
For women and career returners:
“Returner training” to enable women to return to engineering after a break or work outside the engineering profession
Pre-apprenticeship programmes to help more women into apprenticeships
Mentoring and support to help them through their career
Tailored training to meet specific and personal career needs
Management and leadership skills
For further information please click here.