Green light given to pilot Retraining scheme that will help people affected by Covid-19 move into new careers

Green light given to pilot Retraining scheme that will help people affected by Covid-19 move into new careers

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Board has today voted to approve the acceleration of a government scheme to help people retrain and develop new skills to support their employment following Covid-19.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has been chosen as a pilot area for a National Retraining Scheme launched by the Department for Education (DfE).  The pilot was due to be developed over the summer for launch in September 2020.  Due to the number of people who have been impacted as a result of Covid-19, the Mayoral Combined Authority have decided to bring the pilot forward to help people retrain and reskill to move into new roles.

Businesses across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough have adapted to the Covid-19 crisis by developing new and innovative working practices.  This is likely to continue into the future meaning our workforce will need to be agile and responsive. The Retraining Scheme Pilot will be targeted towards helping people develop the necessary skills and training to adapt and embrace these new ways of working.   The Pilot will support employers by ensuring they have the skilled workforce they need now and for the future as the economy bounces back.

Courses on offer will be delivered online to those that are eligible and will include the following:

• Project Management
• Leading Change
• Team Leadership
• Operational Leadership
• Digital Skills
• Health and Social Care
• Care Certificate
• Support to change careers, to upskill, reskill and retrain

Mayor James Palmer said:

“We are pushing the button on this critical retraining scheme to get the many people who have been affected by Covid-19 the help they need to find new employment as quickly as possible.

“Covid-19 has changed the way many businesses operate and I want the Combined Authority I lead to do everything in our power to help people adapt so they can take full advantage of these opportunities.”

The Combined Authority has been selected as a pilot area by Ministers to test and adapt the National Retraining Scheme for the area.  Lessons learnt will inform the national model and could lead to further skills devolution and additional funding for the area.

It is thought the route in will be shorter courses with progression routes to longer courses and through the Combined Authority’s Apprenticeship Levy and AEB Programme.

*The Pilot will be accessible to those who meet set criteria:

1. Age 24 +
2. Living or working within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
3. Employers within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough with 20 to 249 employees
4. Those who can demonstrate that they are at risk of redundancy and need retraining to move into a new job
5. Those who do not have a degree or equivalent level or above
6. Those earning a salary of under £30,000