ESF Skills for Growth: Innovation Pot

This call for projects formed part of GM's ESF Skills for Growth Programme, which aims to support GM business fill occupational skills gaps and create both individual progression and business growth in the region. Intelligence tells us that there are still skills gaps across GM we could tackle with this opportunity, and we know that providers on our FPS have a lot to contribute to this using their own work with employers and knowledge of skills gaps in GM. Therefore, we created a £6m innovation pot to allow providers to put forward innovative ideas that they believe can help to tackle some of the skills gaps which have not already been addressed, meet the ESF requirements and wider programme aims, and be delivered within the timescale available. The specification is part of a longer-term plan to develop skills to ensure that businesses are better able to retain and progress staff. Increasing opportunities for upskilling and investing in staff training and development has been highlighted as a key factor in reducing staff turnover and increasing business growth. The overarching aim of the package is to improve skills, create pathways for progression, and prepare people for higher apprenticeships/higher levels of learning. This opportunity was commissioned as a further competition/call off from the education, work and skills flexible procurement system.