New Partnership to Stimulate Industry Growth & Create Hundreds of Cornish Apprenticeships

A consortium of 10 Cornish business sectors has formed a partnership to stimulate industry growth and create hundreds of apprenticeships through the Cornwall Apprenticeship Agency.

The partners each represent support networks for their respective industries and are dedicated to helping companies with workforce training solutions and taking on apprenticeships at a reduced risk and cost.

Part-time Skills Brokers, who have specialist knowledge of their sectors, have been appointed for each partner. They will create training plans and tailored apprenticeships specific to a business’s needs; sourcing the most suitable training packages and helping companies access Government incentives.

Mark Beckett, manager of the Cornwall Apprenticeship Agency (CAA), said: “This is a positive collaboration of partners working together to develop economic growth and employment, through the CAA’s unique proposition.

“The partners have a strong engagement and trusted relationships with employers in their sectors. They are tasked with raising awareness of skills training, developing companies’ training plans and creating apprenticeship vacancies to be supported by the CAA.”

“The partners have a strong engagement and trusted relationships with employers in their sectors. They are tasked with raising awareness of skills training, developing companies’ training plans and creating apprenticeship vacancies to be supported by the CAA.”

The scheme aims to create 650 apprenticeships across Cornwall over the next two years, with particular focus on supporting small and medium sized businesses (SMEs). The CAA’s unique package enables SMEs to overcome barriers previously experienced to taking on apprentices. It supports the entire recruitment process and can employ the apprentice on businesses’ behalf; handling the payroll, tax and national insurance. Bespoke training packages are created and on-going support provided for each apprenticeship, allowing businesses to focus on productivity.

The consortium is sponsored by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills and is formally known as the ELISA project (Employer Led Infrastructure for Skills & Apprenticeships). The partners include Cornwall Marine Network, for the marine, engineering and manufacturing sectors, Cornwall Sustainable Buildings Trust, for construction, Digital Peninsula Network, for  IT, Creative Skills (part of Arts Centre Trust) for creative, Cornwall Development Company, for agri-food, Cornwall Neighbourhood for Change, for voluntary and community, Newquay for Excellence, for airport operations, hospitality and catering, the Tourism Skills Cornwall, for tourism, and KXBridge for health and well-being.

There will be a chance to meet the CAA’s specialist advisors at the Cornwall Business Show at Kingsley Village, Fraddon, on Wednesday October 2^nd and Thursday October 3^rd, at Stand No. 41. The one-stop-shop event provides an additional opportunity for employers to learn first-hand about how the CAA apprenticeship scheme can help their business grow, with less risks and costs that are commonly associated with recruitment.

• Posted: August 27, 2013
• By: Tim Bowerbank
• Categories: Latest News