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Free government-funded training courses available to 250 adults in the South West

An additional 250 learner places have been announced on the #Train4Tomorrow Digital bootcamps which are open to adults in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset, Torbay, Cornwall and Dorset.

The #Train4Tomorrow programme is designed to help people enter highly paid growth industries in the region, such as cyber security, data science, software development, digital marketing and IT. The Bootcamps are being run by the Heart of the South West LEP (HotSW LEP) and the Digital Skills Partnership.

Following the success of the oversubscribed Digital bootcamps in January 2021, #Train4Tomorrow has secured additional government funding for 250 learner places on Digital courses which will start in April 2021.

The free-to-access courses are separated into six key areas, including IT, cyber, data science, software, digital marketing and healthcare and courses are worth up to £3000.

The courses are delivered by industry professionals, and are tailored to match current job vacancies in the region. On completion of the training, participants are guaranteed a job interview in the sector in which they have trained.

Charlotte Collyer, Digital Skills Partnership Manager at HotSW LEP, said: “The #Train4Tomorrow programme is designed to fast-track local people into highly paid, economically resilient sectors. In 2020, roles in the digital and tech sector outgrew every sector bar healthcare, and salaries for digital roles are around 36% higher than the average.

“We are delighted to be able to reopen applications for the Train4Tomorrow Digital bootcamps, which offer people a fantastic range of specialisms, and the chance to re-skill and gain employment by accessing training delivered by some of the best regional national training providers, as well as access to hundreds of employers and live vacancies.”

Each programme consists of 12 weeks of intense training, covering skills and knowledge training as well as support with interview techniques.

Heart of the South West LEP Chair, Karl Tucker, said: “To help the region recover from the impact of the pandemic it is vital that local people are provided with the skills they need to fill job opportunities in the region’s growing sectors; filling the skills gap for employers and getting people back in work.”

To find out more about the #Train4Tomorrow Digital and Technical bootcamps, and to register, go to www.train4tomorrow.org.uk.

You can also follow the Skills Launchpad on social media:

Twitter https://twitter.com/SkillsLaunchpad

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skillslaunchpad

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Skillslaunchpad/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skills-launchpad

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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.