Published: 24/01/2023
A NEW scheme to boost jobs and the economy has been launched by Copeland Borough Council.
The Copeland Skills and Enterprise Partnership includes a range of employers and support organisations. Its work will support entrepreneurs, run courses to help residents into employment, and subsidise work placements. The three-year programme is funded by Copeland Community Fund and Sellafield Ltd, and delivered by Copeland Borough Council.
Mike Starkie, Copeland's Elected Mayor, said: "This work builds on the firm foundations of our previous programme, the Copeland Work and Skills Partnership.
"That delivered huge benefits - employers were helped to train and employ new staff, and lots of residents gained skills enabling them to move successfully into the workforce. This new phase will continue that great work and provide an invaluable resource for enterprise in Copeland."
It is anticipated the new programme will lead to:
- More than 50 residents, including disabled people, becoming employed
- More than 2,000 hours being dedicated to supporting and upskilling unemployed people
- More than 50 residents gaining 26-week paid work placements
Mayor Starkie added: "The projects will support our wider economic development and regeneration work, leading to an upturn in jobs, and new and diversified businesses. They will also back up our work delivering large scale programmes such as the Town Deals, Levelling Up, Borderlands and the Shared Prosperity Fund."
Emma Moynihan, Copeland Community Fund Manager, said: “The fund is delighted to be supporting the new three-year Copeland Skills and Enterprise Programme.
"Work and skills has been a priority for the fund since its inception in 2010. We are thrilled to have invested in the many programmes developed by the partnership to create more opportunities and improve the lives of those that live and work in Copeland.”
Stuart McCourt, Social Impact Manager at Sellafield Ltd, said: “Through SiX - our Social Impact Multiplied programme - one of our aims is to improve access to sustainable incomes. This programme has already demonstrated a great track record of moving people into, or closer to, employment and we are looking forward to seeing this continue through the next phase."
The partners in the Copeland Skills and Enterprise Partnership are: All Together Cumbria, Better Bodies UK, Centre for Leadership Performance, Copeland CAB, Cumbria CVS, CCC Copeland CLAS, Cumbria Youth Alliance, the Department for Work and Pensions, GEN 2, Groundwork North East and Cumbria, Home Group, Home 2 Work, INSPIRA, Lakes College West Cumbria, Millom Network Centre Ltd, Phoenix Enterprise Centre, Responsive Training, Riverside, TEG Virtual, Women Out West and Whitehaven, Egremont & District Credit Union.
