15 projects get SPF money to boost the skills and prospects of Powys people

25 January 2024

Fifteen projects have received Shared Prosperity Fund (Levelling Up) grants worth a total of £2.88 million in the last year to help people find work or secure better jobs.

The awards have been made by the Powys Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) Local Partnership Board, under its People and Skills theme.

It is responsible for deciding how the just over £26 million in SPF money allocated to Powys for 2022-25, by the UK Government as part of its Levelling Up programme, should be spent.

The Powys SPF Local Partnership Board is supported by Powys County Council's Economic Development and Regeneration Team.

"Our objectives under the People and Skills theme are to boost core skills and support adults to progress in work, reduce levels of economic inactivity, support people furthest from the labour market to overcome barriers to work, and support local areas to fund gaps in local skills provision to support people to progress in work, and supplement local adult skills provision," said Cllr David Selby, the council's Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys and Chair of the Powys SPF Local Partnership Board.

"This would ideally be achieved by targeting adults with no or low-level qualifications and skills in maths, through investment in bespoke intensive life and employment support, by providing cohesive, locally tailored support, including access to basic skills, and by delivering provision through a wider range of routes or enabling more intensive or innovative provision."

The projects that have been successful under the People and Skills theme are:

• Early Intervention Youth Support, £575,000, to Powys County Council's Education Service, for assessment and help for young people facing problems, who are not accessing support at school.
• Digital Volunteering Pathways Powys, £91,325, to Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations, to improve digital skills across the voluntary sector.
• Development of Sustainable Land Management, £142,702, to Lantra Wales, for the creation of six accredited training modules for farmers and other land managers to access.
• Skills for Sustainability, £104,702, to Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations, to employ advisors who will support trustee boards and others in the voluntary sector.
• Bringing Theraplay Expertise to Child Care, £87,024, to The Family Place, for training in a therapeutic intervention for strengthening relationships, including towards a Foundation Therapy Level 3 qualification.
• Increasing Access to Work through Beam and Rekindle, £98,026, to Beam Up, to provide training to 150 18-25-year-olds who are either seeking work or are in low-paid jobs.
• Routes to Work, £261,753, to Powys County Council, to establish a training programme targeted at council occupations facing skills shortages and to provide opportunities that will develop skills.
• Net Zero Business Skills Development, £103,465, to NPTC Group of Colleges, for a dedicated advisor who will provide information to employers on training opportunities that will help them cut their carbon emissions.
• Newtown Fashion Technology Academy, £526,603, to NPTC Group of Colleges, to fund the use of technology that will allow designers to work with real-time 3D simulations and a fully equipped facility for garment production.
• Growing Green Skills Capacity in Powys, £143,895, to Centre for Alternative Technology, for training at least 400 people in sustainable construction, retrofit, woodland management, renewable energy and ideas development.
• AnTir Powys, £161,412, to Tir Coed, to deliver woodland, nature-based, food growing and heritage skills courses and taster sessions, to unemployed, underemployed, isolated and disadvantaged people.
• AgriStart Pilot Project, £155,000, to Lantra Wales, for a scheme providing accredited courses in the agricultural and horticultural sector that will prepare participants for employment.
• Green Future Leaders, £62,332, to Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, to cover paid-internships, long-term work placements and youth groups that will improve the skills and nature knowledge of 10-25-year-olds.
• Digital Technology Learning Support Network, £133,741, to Cardiff Metropolitan University, for a series of bootcamps and workshops that will boost digital skills in Powys.
• Building Potential in Minds, £242,216, to Mid and North Powys Mind, to provide one-to-one mental health support and training to residents aged 11 and over.

For more information on the UK SPF in Powys visit: UK Shared Prosperity Fund or email: ukspf@powys.gov.uk

The Powys SPF Local Partnership includes Powys County Council, Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, Powys Teaching Health Board, NPTC Group of Colleges, Business Wales, Mid Wales Regional Skills Partnership, Mid Wales Tourism, Mid Wales Manufacturing Group, Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations, Wales YFC, NFU Cymru, Farmers' Union of Wales, Chambers Wales, and One Voice Wales.