£900k in European cash to boost Cheshire skills and growth

Cheshire East Council has helped secure £900k of European funding to boost careers advice and stimulate skills and growth.

The authority’s arms-length Skills and Growth Company teamed up with Warrington and Cheshire West & Chester Councils to develop a joint bid to the European Social Fund for the delivery of a two-year careers information and advice project across the county.

With the six-figure cash now guaranteed, the project will focus on promoting high-growth and key technology sectors to over 500 young people.

Cheshire East’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Cllr Don Stockton, said: “This is excellent news for our talented young people and also for the local and regional economy as a whole.

“This is further evidence that Cheshire East is open for business – and means business when it comes to working with partners to support growth and jobs across the borough.”

He continued: “This funding award is not just a great opportunity for Cheshire East to lead and deliver a local collaborative careers programme, it also sends a clear message about the great work being done to boost skills and growth across Cheshire and Warrington.”

Once underway, the project will aim to raise awareness of the career opportunities available in Warrington and the wider Cheshire area.

The councils will provide resources to help young adults make career choices aligned with job opportunities in priority and growth sectors like rail, engineering, life sciences and advanced manufacturing.

Skills and Growth Company chairman Cllr George Hayes hailed the project as an “ambitious” move that will help secure long-term benefits for the area’s young people and businesses.

He commented: “There will also be specific support to help those young people currently outside education, training or employment to gain additional support and skills to help them enter employment for the first time.”