Welcome to the Winter 2018 European Social Fund (ESF) Newsletter that has been produced by Coventry & Warwickshire’s ESF Technical Assistance Team.
In this edition, we bring you up to date on another new project that has been launched through the 2014-2020 ESF Programme in Coventry & Warwickshire to raise skills levels within our workforce and support local residents to access employment.
We’ll also give you some interesting examples of what this funding is achieving for our local residents and businesses.
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Leading organisations from across Coventry and Warwickshire have joined together to support local businesses across the region.
The “Collaborate to Train” project is supported by the European Social Fund and aims to improve the ways in which education providers, local authorities and other stakeholders work together with businesses to provide high quality and effective education and training services in a more collaborative, user-led way. It will be delivered through a consortium of the major stakeholders in education, training and business engagement including:
- WCG
- Coventry College
- University of Warwick
- Coventry City Council
- North Warwickshire & Hinckley College
- Coventry University
- Warwickshire County Council
We aim to engage with local SMEs to support them to increase their involvement with education and employment services to provide additional work experience placements, supported internships, apprenticeships and school engagement activities.
Collaborate to Train will work across the whole Coventry and Warwickshire LEP area. The project aims to facilitate long lasting change within the education and training system of Coventry and Warwickshire, ensuring that activities are: fit for purpose, business-led and responsive to needs.
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Skills Gaps and Support Business Growth
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Nuneaton-based VCS Manufacturing Ltd is among the latest companies to benefit from the Coventry & Warwickshire Skills 4 Growth project (CWS4G) which delivers skills support to SMEs in the region.
Skills 4 Growth, part-funded by the European Social Fund with additional funding from Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council, offers a range of training to eligible businesses in the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP postcodes, supporting individuals gain accredited full qualifications up to Levels 2 and 3.
CWS4G worked with VCS to identify the skills gaps within the business and a Skills Training Package was developed to meet those needs, with training for the purchasing and finance team identified as a priority.
VCS Manufacturing Ltd supported Natalie to complete a computerised bookkeeping qualification to further develop capabilities of the team.
"The course has given me a much better understanding of bookkeeping and its importance to the business," she said. "I thoroughly enjoyed the course.”
VCS managing director Paul Smith said: ‘I have noticed greater confidence in Natalie and her increased ability to take on a greater role in the team. I am really pleased with the progress she has made and the initiative she shows.”
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The Skills 4 Growth programme is managed by Coventry City Council in partnership with the Coventry & Warwickshire LEP, Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub, Warwickshire County Council and other major stakeholders. A 50% contribution of funding for eligible training costs is made by the project.
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For further information on how Skills 4 Growth may be able to support your business to close Skills Gaps please contact Anne-Marie Tranter on anne-marie.tranter@coventry.gov.uk (02477 719782).
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Huge Impact with Ambition
Ambition has now engaged with over 1,000 young people from Coventry since its launch last summer. As a direct result of the support received over 350 young people engaged on the programme have already entered new employment, training and education opportunities that had eluded them in the past. Half of those entering those opportunities are now in work.
Over 300 vulnerable young people have been supported organisations by Ambition Coaches into tailored employment support offers. These have been delivered by a wide range of specialist local support providers. Many more of those engaged on the Programme are also expected to achieve similar positive outcomes once they have received a full package of support to address their specific barriers.
The Programme will continue to deliver this support until July next year. Ambition has targeted support to those Coventry young people who are finding it hardest to enter work. This has included young people facing multiple challenges such as experiencing mental ill health, being from care backgrounds, having a disability, being homeless, having a criminal conviction and/or facing a wide range of other issues.
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Michael was out of work when he was referred onto the Ambition Programme by Cofa Court Jobcentre. Through support, it was identified that Michael has dyscalculia, dyslexia and dyspraxia, causing him difficulty in reading and writing.
Michael was referred to the Job Shop’s Specialist Disability Employment Advisor, who provided support alongside his Ambition Coach.
Michael was invited to two interviews for apprenticeships, with the Job Shop providing support to help him to attend and help with interview preparation.
Although he was not offered a role in either of these positions, Michael became a lot more confident in applying for jobs. He knew that he had the support he needed with regards to his disabilities.
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Michael applied for an administration apprenticeship with the NHS at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire and was delighted to be offered the position. He is thriving in his new role.
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Danni* registered for Ambition Coventry’s support and arranged to meet staff at the Job Shop. Her Ambition Coach and Job Shop staff helped her to complete an initial action plan. Danni identified that although she had recently completed a Business Admin degree course, she had little work experience and wanted to improve her job application skills as she was struggling to gain interviews.
The Job Coach and Ambition Coach arranged for Danni to meet with two local providers, CW Training and The Highlife Centre, to discuss their respective skills support and work experience programmes. Danni gained support with her applications. She also began gaining working experience in administration through the Highlife Centre, which she says is increasing her confidence and skills.
Danni’s Ambition Coach helped her to explain what she wanted to CWT. She was given support with identifying the course she wanted to do. Danni liked the programme CWT had to offer and also received support with her interview and job application skills. Danni began employment last October and is delighted by this.
*This name has been changed to protect confidentiality.
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Ambition Coventry is a Youth Employment Initiative funded through the European Social Fund. Find out more at http://www.coventry.gov.uk/ambition.
Follow Ambition on Facebook and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/ambitioncov and http://twitter.com/covjobsupport.
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New Job Boost After Loss of Sight
Despite suffering from sudden sight loss, 25-year-old Stacey Percival has started full-time work with support from a National Lottery funded project.
Four years ago, Stacey was studying to become a nurse when she was struck down with a virus that took both her kidneys and nearly all of her vision in just ten frightening minutes. It left her seriously ill and unable to complete her degree at Coventry University.
After a successful transplant she was able to look at putting her life back together, supported by the Accelerate project.
“The last two years were frustrating as it felt that door after door was closing on me, because I have partial vision,” explained Stacey, who is assisted by her guide dog Toffee.
“You can feel very lonely, believing there isn’t that much you can still do. A phone call from Action for the Blind introducing me to the Accelerate Project changed all that. Three months on from that phone call and I started a full-time job.”
The £3m Accelerate project, which is part of ‘Building Better Opportunities’ - a programme funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund, is looking to support nearly 900 of Coventry and Warwickshire’s most disadvantaged people to tackle the barriers preventing them from entering work.
It brings together 23 local partners to provide each participant with a single access point to confidence building, work experience and skills enhancement. Stacey was assigned George Bradley as a Journey Guide.
“George was like a mentor, guide, advisor and friend all rolled into one and she went over and above what she should have done to help give me my confidence back.”
Stacey has now been employed by global outsource provider Sitel as a Customer Service Advisor at their Coventry Contact Centre. Sean Higgs, HR Manager for Sitel said “As a leading employer in the Midlands, this is a great career opportunity for Stacey.”
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George Bradley was delighted: “Stacey is a very intelligent young lady with an infectious personality that is ideal for a customer service role. She’ll be a real asset to Sitel.”
Stacey concluded: “There’s no words to describe the difference George has made, I can’t thank her enough.”
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See Stacey’s story here.
For further information on Accelerate, please visit www.accelerate.org.uk or follow @AccelerateCW on Twitter or Facebook.
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For more information about the European Social Fund for England, please visit the website here.
The ESF Technical Assistance Team would welcome feedback on this newsletter. To provide feedback, or to find out more about ESF in Coventry & Warwickshire or how the team could help you develop your project ideas, please contact:
David Hope – david.hope@coventry.gov.uk
Telephone: 07572 180 017
Craig Perry – craig.perry@coventry.ac.uk
Telephone: 07557 425 397
Helen Hunt – helenhunt@warwickshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 07775 745 559
For further updates on the ESF Programme in Coventry & Warwickshire, please visit http://www.cwlep.com
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