University of Warwick part of project supporting regional businesses

The University of Warwick is one of many Warwickshire and Coventry organisations which have banded together to support regional businesses with education and training services.

The three-year project – named the Collaborate to Train Coventry and Warwickshire project – has been partly funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) as part of its 2014-2020 European Structural Investment Funds Growth Programme in England.

The ESF’s aim is to help fund local areas, eventually encouraging economic development by investing in endeavours which support job creation, innovation, local community regeneration and general social inclusion.

The project itself hopes to progress how education providers and local authorities work with businesses to provide successful and functional training services across the region.

We’re already seeing our relationships with these partners develop, and it’s a step change in the way education providers can help businesses grow

– Stephen Ward

Led by Warwickshire College Group (WCG), this project is targeted at smaller or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering a variety of work experience placements, apprenticeships, internships and so on, with Warwickshire County Council acting as a partner to ensure its maximum impact on the community.

The Collaborate to Train Coventry and Warwickshire project is also being showcased through many major associations and stakeholders in education and business engagement, including Coventry College, North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, Coventry University Enterprise and Coventry City Council.

Head of External Relations, Student Careers and Skills at the University of Warwick, Stephen Ward, has stated: “We’re very pleased to be part of the Collaborate to Train project, and welcome the opportunity it gives us to work closely with our partner organisation across the region.

“We’re already seeing our relationships with these partners develop, and it’s a step change in the way education providers can help businesses grow.”

Currently, there are over 50 small businesses which are benefiting from the project since its development and introduction.