Sunderland City Council have awarded the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme People and Skills (Skills and Inclusion) to the University of Sunderland. The contract funding will be used to:
The Sunderland Skills and Inclusion Programme (SSIP) will deliver £1,188,252 of funded training to upskill Sunderland organisations and employees.
The Sunderland Skills and Inclusion Programme is delivered by the University of Sunderland. This project is funded by the Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme, managed in Sunderland by Sunderland City Council on behalf of the Sunderland partnership.
The aims of the SSIP are threefold:
Respond to employer skills needs across priority areas to drive productivity and competitiveness in key sectors of the Sunderland economy.
Develop business management skills amongst SMEs, focusing on Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Computing, Health and Life Science and Creative and Cultural sectors, supporting them to develop and grow.
Support the inclusion of diverse groups within the economy, allowing employers and employees to maximise the benefits of a diverse workforce.
The Sunderland Skills and Inclusion Programme will be delivered in collaboration with the following partners:
Our team will provide the opportunity for individuals to access training, addressing specific skills gaps identified by employers in disciplines which could include:
The Sunderland Skills and Inclusion programme offers organisations and employees of Sunderland a range of benefits including:
Signposting to other provision and support to businesses, as part of a wider support architecture at a city level.
Employees of Sunderland businesses able to acquire skills needed in current and future roles, being able to get onto a career pathway – toward higher skilled roles.
Employers being better equipped to meet the needs of a diverse current and potential workforce.
Enhanced engagement with ongoing upskilling activity within Sunderland businesses.
Increased innovation within Sunderland businesses to transform businesses into fully digitally enabled businesses with associated positive impacts on carbon reduction.
Businesses addressing skills gaps to ensure ongoing viability, achieve their growth aspirations and improve efficiency and productivity. This will contribute to increased employment in higher skilled roles.
Increased productivity across the city. The breadth of support will mean that the project can assist all sections of the Sunderland economy through essential upskilling.
Beneficiaries of the project will be: