Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland colleges secure £3.5 million to bridge the skills gap and boost key industries
Colleges and independent training providers across Greater Lincolnshire have joined forces to tackle the widening skills gap after securing millions of pounds of government funding.
TEC Partnership, as lead partner for the Greater Lincolnshire Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) Partnership, has been allocated a total of over £3.5 million by the Department of Education (DfE). The move is part of a drive to help people launch careers in key industries, up-skill the workforce through innovative projects, and boost economic growth across the region.
How will these funds help?
The funds are supporting delivery of activities aligned with the Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), published in August 2023, which identified a host of unfilled opportunities in sectors such as green energy and the digital industry that are carrying thousands of vacancies for skilled staff.
The projects cover:
- Decarbonisation and Green Skills: focusing on engineering and low carbon technologies, green energy, and building services engineering.
- Digitisation and Smarter Working: covering augmented and virtual reality; cyber security, automation, and Artificial Intelligence (AI); and digital production, design, and development.
There has also been support for a range of projects addressing fundamental issues employers face around employability, working towards the development of a cross-region skills passport to improve work readiness and essential skills, and embedding this alongside vocational learning.
Who is taking part in the projects?
The projects are being delivered between September 2023 and March 2025, by a collaborative partnership of Greater Lincolnshire Further Education and Independent Training Providers, including:
- TEC Partnership, lead partner (Grimsby Institute Campus)
- Bishop Burton College (Riseholme Campus)
- Boston College
- CATCH
- DN Colleges Group
- Franklin 6th Form College
- Grantham College
- Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA)
- Inspire Education Group – Stamford College
- John Leggott College
The Employers Guide to LSIF demonstrates how the partnership has been working to tackle the skills gaps and provide innovative technology and training within the Greater Lincolnshire area.
Further funding for Hull and East Yorkshire
Within the Hull and East Yorkshire Region, Bishop Burton College have been awarded £2.5 million of funding through the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) focusing on two key areas: low carbon and technical skills, and digital transformation.
TEC Partnership are proud have led the £0.9 million contract on behalf of Bishop Burton college focusing on the digital transformation, working in collaboration with East Riding College, Hull College, Wyke 6th Form College, and Wilberforce 6th Form College.
This project has seen the development of new technology suites, methods of education, and the installation of immersive and VR rooms. These developments further engage the learners and place them in a realistic environment, whilst also address shortages in specialist industry learning and allow cross campus delivery.