New Transport Infrastructure Skills Board Launched to Boost Jobs and Skills Opportunities

A group of Network Rail apprentices

A newly-formed Transport Infrastructure Skills Board has been launched by Cheshire East Council’s arms-length Skills and Growth Company.

The board builds on other rail sector skills development and brings together major employers such as Network Rail, Atkins (part of SNC Lavalin) and Jacobs with education and training providers, local colleges and universities, alongside policy makers and HS2 Ltd to identify and address the skills issues and challenges facing the sector.

The board will work collaboratively to ensure local provision of education, training, apprenticeships, careers advice and vocational training are fit for purpose.

With many major investment projects in the pipeline, such as the proposed HS2 high-speed rail track and station investment in and around Crewe and local road upgrades –  including the Congleton and Middlewich bypass schemes – the future looks very bright for the sector. 

Around 200 businesses associated with the rail industry are based in Cheshire East – which is around nine times the UK average.

Employment opportunities are set to increase substantially as the current ageing workforce retires, with major infrastructure projects, such as HS2, predicted to create around 25,000 new jobs and 2,000 apprenticeships nationally.

There is also a growing need to ‘upskill’ the current workforce to keep pace with new technology and design techniques, while ensuring businesses can remain competitive.

Cheshire East Councillor George Hayes, chairman of the Skills and Growth Company, said: “The rail sector is growing in significance and we want to ensure Cheshire East retains its place at the heart of the rail industry, whilst also maximising the opportunities in the other associated sectors, such as construction.

“With so many opportunities for jobs and progression in these industries, it is essential that we equip our young people with the skills and awareness to flourish and sustain future growth.”

James Richards, Network Rail’s engineering capability manager, said: “I welcome the launch of this skills board. It will enable employers to work more effectively with training providers and policy makers to provide us with the highly-skilled workforce we need and contribute to the wider awareness of the sector from schools through to colleges and universities.”

Businesses Offered Free Advice to Help Solve Their Funding Puzzles

Cheshire East Council is inviting businesses from across the borough to learn about the business support and funding available for growth projects.

The free-to-attend lunchtime event on 25 January, provided by the authority’s arms-length Skills and Growth Company, will have guest speakers discussing the funding available to help your business grow.

The event will cover the practical support available to improve your chances of securing finance, as well as the government-backed lending scheme Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF), which has been set up to provide more than £400m of investment to businesses.

After the speakers there will be a networking lunch, where there will be an opportunity to meet with a range of funding and business support specialists.

Speakers at the Alderley Park Conference Centre event will include representatives of The British Business Bank, The Skills and Growth Company’s ‘access 2 finance service’ and successful grant applicants, who will share their experience of applying and receiving grant funding. This will include a panel discussion from the speakers, with a question and answer session.

Nantwich-based Frank Olsen Furniture will be one of the businesses taking part following their £25,000 funding from the NPIF, which is helping fuel their growth and create new jobs.

To book on the event, which will run from 11.30am to 2pm at Alderley Park, go online at: www.skillsandgrowth.co.uk/events.  Alternatively, call the Skills and Growth Company on 0300 1235001.

Cheshire East Councillor George Hayes, chairman of the Skills and Growth Company, said: “This event offers expert insight and advice into the range of support available to businesses looking to grow.

“Securing the right finance needed for growth can be difficult and we hope this event will help businesses to build upon their successes by showcasing the range of financial support available to them.”