Local organisations have been awarded a share of Torbay’s UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) to deliver new support programmes designed to help residents get back into work, access new career opportunities and boost their skills in current roles.

Four local partner organisations have been awarded a total of £701,000 from Torbay’s £1.76 million UK Shared Prosperity Fund, alongside some additional Council funding, to deliver five new employment and skills programmes.

The initiatives will launch over the coming weeks when residents will have the opportunity to find out more about each programme and register their interest. All programmes will offer a personal approach, helping participants to raise their aspirations, progress in the employment market and gain new skills, and are completely free for those taking part. To keep up to date with everything related to UKSPF in Torbay visit www.investintorbay.com/UKSPF

The five programmes on offer include:

• Focus Forward: Helping those most in need of support finding work by offering intensive and tailored mentoring and provision, delivered by Eat That Frog and I Can Do That CIC
• Targeting Torbay’s Digital Skills Shortage: Supporting those at risk of digital exclusion by removing digital skills barriers residents may face such as access to technology and technological confidence, delivered by Turning Heads CIC
• Sound Futures: Helping young people not currently in education, employment or training, delivered by Sound Communities CIC
• Torbay Green Skills: Provision delivered to support the strategic green skills agenda, developing the skills required for the future workforce and economy, delivered by South Devon College
• Torbay Sector Skills Support: Working with employers in Torbay’s key sectors to upskill employees and enable them to progress at work, unlocking high paid and high skilled roles, delivered by South Devon College

Running alongside these projects is the government-funded Multiply Programme which launched in Torbay in 2023. The programme offers free maths and numeracy courses to adults aged 19 and over, giving people the skills they need to progress in their careers, secure well-paid jobs and improve their wellbeing. The Council received £613,000 to deliver the Multiply Programme as part of the government’s Levelling Up agenda.

Councillor Chris Lewis, Cabinet Member for Place Services and Economic Growth for Torbay Council, said: “These are targeted programmes that will give local people the support they need to find new employment or progress in their careers. They have been designed to help people of all ages and backgrounds and are completely free for those taking part. We are pleased to be working with local partners to deliver these new initiatives and hope that residents from across the Bay will benefit from the support on offer.’’

The new People and Skills programmes are being run in addition to the UKSPF-funded Communities and Place and Supporting Local Business Programmes, both of which have seen excellent impact in Torbay already.

In 2023, Torbay was allocated £1.76 million to spend on local investment through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The funding, which is part of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda, was allocated with the aim of delivering three key objectives: support local businesses, boost career and education opportunities for local people, and create spaces for communities to enjoy.

To find out more about UKSPF and the Torbay projects on offer visit www.investintorbay.com/UKSPF.