Colleges to receive training investment
Local colleges are to receive upgraded training facilities to help boost the skills of the workforce in Shropshire as part of the £22 million Growth Deal.
North Shropshire College, Derwen College, Shrewsbury College, TCAT and Hereford and Ludlow College, which has a campus in Ludlow, will provide new training facilities and technical equipment using the cash boost.
The Marches LEP, which submitted the Growth Deal proposals to the Government said it would lead to better "employment and progression opportunities" for 3,700 learners in Shropshire.
Two other significant projects will benefit from the funding package – both of which lie over the county border in Herefordshire.
A new university will be established in Hereford, specialising in technology and engineering, which will be focused on getting businesses to work with the university to drive innovation.
The Hereford Enterprise Zone will also benefit from the establishment of a new Centre for Cyber Security, creating 185 jobs, which will make the most of expertise in the sector that already exists in the city.
Graham Wynn chairman of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We want to create high quality jobs and the economic conditions for businesses to flourish – this funding will help us do exactly that.
"Investment in developing a highly skilled workforce will help our businesses to grow, inspire them to innovate and in turn, create even more jobs.
“Working with our local authority partners in Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Telford and Wrekin, we have a strong track record in delivering schemes which really make a difference to the lives of people who live and work here.
"We’re looking forward to meeting in the coming weeks to decide on funding and progress with these new projects.”
