More opportunities to improve region’s skills announced

The third set of tenders has been released by the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges. Looking to work with organisations and training providers who can help improve the skill levels of the Leeds City Region’s workforce, the latest opportunities will also contribute to supporting growth and reducing local poverty.

The opportunities are provided through the More Skills Better Jobs and Reach Higher contracts, funded by the European Social Fund and managed by the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges.

Applications for these opportunities must be submitted by 5pm Thursday 22 November via the In-Tend website. Full information can be requested on the In-Tend website.

More Skills Better Jobs

Anchor Institutions Project (Deadline Tuesday 27 November)

Anchor Institutions* play an important role in supporting growth and reducing poverty locally. Through in-work development practices they can directly deliver more inclusive growth and inspire other local organisations to act and support career progression and skills acquisition opportunities for low paid staff.

Applications are invited from a range of organisations who will work with large Anchor Institutions across the Leeds City Region on the delivery of a range of skills and learning interventions that can advance the skills and progression prospects of their lowest paid workers.

*Joseph Rowntree Foundation definition of Anchor Institutes – the role large organisations rooted in a particular place can play in the development of their local communities and economies.

Reach Higher

Conversion Skills – Energy Engineering (Deadline Thursday 6 December)

This project invites applications from organisation who can deliver training to:

• Increase the skills levels of employed individuals from the existing level to the next, to encourage progression in employment;
• Train individuals in their pursuit of careers in the energy sector; and
• Support employers to grow their own skills, ensuring that their staff have the specific skills that are required to meet business objectives.

The scope of the services being tendered covers:

• Employer engagement and recruitment of individuals to undertake training;
• Training development, delivery and accreditations and certification (if applicable); and
• Evaluation and shared learning.

Conversion Skills – Plant and Crane (Deadline Thursday 6 December)

This project invites applications from organisation who can deliver training to:

• Increasing the skills levels (through training) of employed individuals from the existing level to the next level up, to encourage progression in employment;
• Train individuals in their pursuit of careers in plant occupations;
• Develop individuals who, upon completion, are ready to progress in plant occupations; and
• Support employers to “grow their own” skills, ensuring that their staff have the specific technical and other skills that are required to meet business objectives.

Knowledgeable and Experienced Workers (Deadline Thursday 6 December)

This project invites applications from organisation who can deliver training to:

• Pilot the delivery of comprehensive early skills and training interventions for workers in sectors and industries at a ‘higher risk’ (for example, older workers in certain sectors such as manufacturing are at higher risk of redundancy)
• There are prolific problems of skill shortages in sectors such as construction and engineering which employers are struggling to overcome. These projects will be commissioned to support workers aged 50 and above in these sectors.
• Projects which focus on increasing the skills of those who manage older workers to better support and facilitate skills development opportunities and career redirection for their older workforce to enable people to remain in good quality work for longer.

Upskilling, reskilling and career change pilot projects would also be welcome. For example, through the delivery of highly challenging work activities such as project-based activities to support career progression or redirection within the company or its supply chain.

Care Workers (Deadline Thursday 6 December)

To meet the aim of building and strengthening a skilled workforce, WYCC are seeking partners to deliver a number of projects designed to help employees with caring responsibilities to achieve higher skills to support career change, in-work development and or/maintain sustainable employment.

The main aims of this training will be to deliver:

• Projects which provide flexible and accessible skills development in-work programmes to maximise participation and attainment for those with caring responsibilities
• Projects which test and unlock new was to provide greater flexibility in the scheduling and delivery of training to allow the participant to be in control of the learning methods to enable those with caring responsibilities to plan their own skill development around caring
• Active and targeted skills training to develop technical skills that also incorporates the delivery of key personal development skills including gaining confidence, feeling a sense of empowerment and becoming more assertive.

For all current tender opportunities from the West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges go to the In-Tend website. All questions should be directed through the In-Tend query system.