UKSPF Open Call Skills and Multiply R2 Approved Projects

Technocamps:  Digital Skills Pathways

This project will develop, foster and support a digital skills pipeline by providing engaging, thought-provoking, and enabling interventions to a wide audience. Working with those in late secondary and further education – particularly those at risk of NEET and those seeking employment or upskilling within the digital sector – we will develop their appetite and skills, providing meaningful interventions leading to personal and economic growth. Interventions around digital will additionally have a STEM-based theme providing an authentic experience to beneficiaries of the use of digital throughout a wide variety of sectors.

This project will complement a sister project that has been funded as part of the SPF within Swansea, providing bespoke interventions that meet the needs of local participants while benefiting from being part of a wider programme of provision.

Digital Skills @ Work

This project will address the Advanced / Specialist IT skills training need for employed people by providing fully funded training opportunities for short “just-in-time” courses to help them progress in their careers, remain in the labour market or change jobs. The project will offer training in office productivity software and more specialist IT skills around coding, Graphic Design / Data Visualization, Computer Aided Design and Digital Marketing. Courses will be hands-on, tutor led in a virtual (online) format to suit learners’ needs. All delegates will have the option to achieve accredited qualifications and bespoke non-accredited certification.

Developing People for the Future

“Developing People for the Future” project will deliver People and Skills interventions for people seeking employment and training through an apprenticeship pathway within Neath Port Talbot Council.  As an organisation, we need to be able to find people with the right skills to fill key positions.  Our succession planning toolkit aims to identify business critical roles, actions and learning training and development opportunities.  Within this period we plan to recruit 10 apprentices and 2 degree apprenticeships in departments where evidence gathered identifies skill shortages and business critical posts as part of our succession planning process.  We will also recruit a Business Support Officer to assist in the administration and support of the project.

Skills Ranger Scheme

The Skills Ranger Scheme will focus on creating and nurturing employable, engaged, and ethical citizens, with the key aim to link skills development with career opportunities in the Wildfox Resorts Group Ltd (“Wildfox”), and wider local employment opportunities. Led by NPTC Group of Colleges, a multi-disciplinary team will engage with the Afan Valley and surrounding communities, providing immersive events, workshops and accredited modules to raise hope and ambition by creating fundamental pathways to training for future employment. The scheme will transform lives, assisting the realisation of Welsh Government’s vision of Wales as a Nation of Second Chances and Lifelong Learning.

Digital Technology Learning Support Network (DTLSN): Specialist IT Skills

The project aims to advance IT skills in the Neath Port Talbot (NPT) area. Cardiff Metropolitan University (CMU), in conjunction with support from the Technocamps Programme (TC), based in Swansea University, will deliver a series of specialist IT skills workshops and accredited and non-accredited courses. These workshops and courses include:

• smart manufacturing
• machine learning
• digital forensics
• cyber security awareness
• interacting with data (Data visualisation)
• blockchain technology & cryptography
• creative coding

These will take place across the NPT region in a range of community locations over a 12-month period. For example, in local businesses, libraries and training centres around NPT region.

Pathways to Progression

“Pathways to Progression” project will deliver People and Skills interventions for our young people seeking an alternative curriculum pathway via an option to choose a vocational related qualification (VRQ) within our secondary education system of Neath Port Talbot.

An Alternative Curriculum aims to enable young people the opportunity to develop skills and experiences that might not be available or achievable within a mainstream education. The curriculum allows the scope and flexibility to take on pupils throughout the academic year, within the scope of the project start and end dates, who are at risk of leaving education with few or no formal qualifications.

Skills and Training within NPTC will develop a range of short intensive accredited courses and/or vocational qualifications from a recognised approved awarding organisation (e.g. City and Guilds).

Digital Skills Bootcamps

This project proposes to deliver digital skills bootcamps in the form of micro-credential courses, school/FE level workshops and community outreach sessions. The key aim is to develop digital skills at all age levels and abilities. Bootcamps will be delivered free of charge to participants and employers for the duration of this project. The well-established network of Technocamps and its’ business arm, the Institute of Coding in Wales, will be utilised to ensure that the delivered courses and workshops are suitable for industry and in-line with the Curriculum for Wales. The community outreach will focus on development of essential digital skills.

The Skills Academy

J.E.S. Group Ltd was set up in 1982 specialising in pipework fabrication and installation and became incorporated in May 2015. Currently employing 114 staff, it is now a multi-disciplined mechanical engineering company involved in major contract work. 

The company requires grant funding for a state-of-the-art Skills Academy to develop Fabrication & Welding skills that align with industry needs and the opportunities presented by Net Zero, the Circular Economy and the Celtic Freeport.

The project will use the latest interactive, immersive, digital technologies alongside expert face-2-face tuition, to harness the large repository of skills accumulated by the existing workforce.

Essential Skills in the Workplace

We’re keen to rekindle and duplicate our Essential Skills in the Workplace programme that we delivered as ACT Enhance previously. This covers the 3 areas of numeracy, literacy and digital literacy to those 19+ who haven’t previously obtained GCSE in these subject areas. The programme was successful and popular with our provision covering from Newport, Cardiff, The Vale, Bridgend, Neath/Port Talbot, Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Pembroke and Ceredigion. We delivered to large reputable employers such as Admiral Insurance, NHS Bro Morgannwg, Swansea Council, Neath Port Talbot Council, Tata Steel, Tesco and many SME’s. Skills were embedded through each employees’ job responsibilities making them more productive and efficient at their job roles.

Employers noted a higher retention rate of staff, higher skills set amongst staff and individuals applying for higher positions and studying Apprenticeships. Our attainment percentage was 94% of those started, achieved the qualifications on offer.