Business leaders welcome £10m skills funding for West Midlands

Business leaders in the West Midlands and Warwickshire have welcomed more than £10 million of Government funding to help close the skills gap in the region.

The Department for Education has announced that the region will receive £10.3 million of Local Skills Improvement funds which will be delivered in partnership with companies and skills providers.

Coventry and Warwickshire, Greater Birmingham and Black Country chambers, working with skills providers and business, have created an improvement plan which has now been given the green light by the Department for Education.

Solihull College and University Centre was the lead applicant and will now work with businesses and a range of providers to deliver a series of projects aimed at developing the skills needed for the regional economy.

Corin Crane, chief executive Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber, said: “This announcement of £10.3 million for the West Midlands and Warwickshire is one of the biggest in the country and great news for local employers.

“It is also vindication of the brilliant work that has been taking place between businesses across the region and our excellent local providers.

“Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is proud to have helped deliver this project and it will provide much needed funds for the skills and recruitment issues our businesses need to grow and find new markets.

“Most importantly, this marks the start of a new way of delivering skills funding – putting businesses at the start of the process and using innovative ways of delivery, of focus and of engagement.

“This relationship between the chambers, businesses, providers and funders will hopefully keep on growing and give the West Midlands economy the boost it needs.”