Sunderland Skills & Inclusion Programme

The Sunderland Skills and Inclusion Programme (SSIP) will deliver £2,566,930 of funded training to upskill Sunderland residents, employees and businesses.

Aims

Sunderland City Council have awarded the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme People and Skills – Skills Call 4 (Skills and Inclusion) to the University of Sunderland. The contract funding will be used to:

The aims of the SSIP are threefold:

Drive productivity

Respond to employer skills needs across priority areas to drive productivity and competitiveness in key sectors of the Sunderland economy.

Develop skills

Develop business management skills amongst SMEs, focusing on digital technologies, supporting them to develop and grow.

Support inclusion

Support the inclusion of diverse groups within the economy, allowing employers and employees to maximise the benefits of a diverse workforce.

Our Partners

The Sunderland Skills and Inclusion Programme will be delivered in collaboration with the following partners:

Our provider offers

Our team will provide the opportunity for individuals to access training, addressing specific skills gaps identified by employers in disciplines which could include:

  • Electrical, Engineering and Manufacturing
  • Leadership, Business, Coaching and Mentoring
  • Marketing
  • Health, Safety and Care
  • Finance
  • Employment Support
  • Security and Installation
  • Education and Training
  • Digital Skills
  • Customer Service
  • Compliance and Legislation

Benefits

The Sunderland Skills and Inclusion programme offers businesses, employees and residents of Sunderland a range of benefits including:

Wider Support

Signposting to other provision and support to businesses, as part of a wider support architecture at a city level.

Acquire Skills

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.

Better equipped

Employers being better equipped to meet the needs of a diverse current and potential workforce.

Upskilling

Enhanced engagement with ongoing upskilling activity within Sunderland businesses.

Increased Innovation

Increased innovation within Sunderland businesses to transform businesses into fully digitally enabled businesses with associated positive impacts on carbon reduction.

Increased Employment

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

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.

Who does the programme help?

Beneficiaries of the project will be:

  • Businesses within the City of Sunderland.
  • Employees of Sunderland based business.
  • City of Sunderland’s economy through a highly skilled workforce, with established associated benefits in terms of improved health.
  • The wider North East region through a dynamic and vibrant Sunderland contributing to regional priorities.