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SELEP launches £3.5m skills capital fund

The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) has launched a new £3.5m round of skills capital funding, said to both students and their potential future employers.

The funding, available to Further Education colleges across Essex, East Sussex, Kent, Medway, Thurrock and Southend, will support skills and training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

George Kieffer, Interim Chairman of SE LEP, said: “This skills capital funding, which is part of our Growth Deal with Government, will support important new facilities or equipment that is designed to boost training and qualifications which in turn will raise the productivity of our businesses.

“It will help the region’s businesses respond to opportunities, and focus on the economic sectors that will underpin our growth. In supporting employment more widely, SE LEP wants to see increases in those developing skills in sectors of growing employment demand, such as life sciences, ICT, manufacturing, professional services, health and social care.

“The SE LEP’s Strategic Plan is targeting funding at improving the talent in priority sectors, particularly higher level skills. The aim is to increase the participation of young people in work, education and training in order to tackle skills gaps.”

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