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LEP to drive growth through skills training

Over £2 million from the European Social Fund (ESF) is being invested in skills training for the area’s workforce to aid business growth.

The Heart of the South West (HotSW) Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has identified priority workforce skills to help boost the economy of the area, including marine, biosciences, advanced engineering, business and professional, environmental services and construction.

Following a procurement process by the Skills Funding Agency on behalf of the LEP, Serco Vocational Training will be working with small and medium enterprise (SME) businesses across the region to identify and address training and development needs through the ESF funded ‘Skills for Growth’ Project.

Chris Garcia, Chief Executive of Heart of the South West LEP said: “This project is a fantastic opportunity to help meet the current and future workforce needs of the area and the UK as a whole.   We have identified key sectors that will benefit from the skills training – this initiative will ensure the workforce have the right skills in place for businesses to grow and prosper.”

Lesley Watson, Head of Apprenticeships, Serco commented: “We are delighted to be working with Heart of the South West LEP on this project. We will be closely working with the LEP and local businesses to meet workforce development needs across the region and will be delivering a variety of different training courses using a range of subcontractors.

“By working in partnership with a range of diverse organisations, we strongly believe that we will be able to meet the priority needs of the Heart of the South West LEP by helping to develop the workforce skills that businesses need to help them grow.”

SME employers interested in finding out more about the Skills for Growth project should call Serco Vocational Training on 01823 338683, email esfssw@serco.com or visit www.skillsforgrowth.co.uk

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.