Aspirational individuals looking to enhance their knowledge and develop their careers are the focus of a new project which has been launched thanks to a £1.5million grant to boost skills in the county.

The Higher Level Skills project is being delivered by Truro and Penwith College to help improve access to a wide variety of career focussed courses including Marketing, Finance, Management, Lean Manufacturing and Project Management.

The professional qualifications – that fit around full time or part time work – start throughout the year, with some as short as three-days in length while others continue over several months.

Professional skills workshops and seminars have already started and the College is currently preparing to deliver taster sessions between 18th and 21st July. These sessions will provide an opportunity to experience the College environment and gain advice on how Higher Level Skills courses can help individuals to achieve their ambitions or support the needs of their business. For those who are returning to learning or preparing to study at a higher level, the College is also offering Higher Level Skills Days packed with useful tips and techniques on 23rd May and 14th June. For information on all events relating to this project visit www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/events.

The £1.5m funding for the scheme has come from the ESF Widening Participation through Skills project and will further boost the College’s ability to train and develop skills in areas where skills gaps have been identified.

Building on the success of its ESF Convergence Raising Aspirations Programme, which saw the College beat all targets to help over 250 adults from across Cornwall to experience Higher Level study, under this latest project the College will work with local partners including businesses, Jobcentre Plus and community organisations to engage with aspirational individuals. A steering group will also be created to work with other training providers and local employers to help identify future employment and skills needs.

There will be packages available to help individuals to access Higher Level study which, subject to eligibility, will provide practical support including help with course fees, childcare and transport costs.

“We’re delighted to have received the go ahead for the Higher Level Skills project and are looking forward to building on our success in this area”, Jo Hancock, European Projects Manager at Truro and Penwith College. “We are already attracting interest for our professional skills workshops and seminars, which started last month, and are anticipating high levels of take-up for our taster sessions between 18th and 21st July”.

For further information or to discuss how the project could help you, please contact Truro and Penwith College Business on 01872 242711 or email charlis@truro-penwith.ac.uk.